ASF: development of situation in Ukraine

Two more cases happened in backyard farms in Rivne (September, 4^th in Budymlia village, 3 pigs died) and Chernigiv (September, 8^th in Maksymivka village, 6 pigs died) regions. These territories are covered by quarantine zone, as well as Kyiv, Sumy and Poltava regions.

But, nevertheless, at present disease spread has greatly slowed down, comparing with the beginning-mid August. The broad informational campaign, launched by The Veterinary watchdog and Association of Pig Breeders of Ukraine was promotive of it.

The fight against ASF has activated all possible forces and capacities:

1. Till the end of the year, the State Forest Resources Agency is plannig the depopulation of wild boars in near-border regions and quarantine zones (35 thousands) to lower the ASF-spread capability.
2. Ukraine and its neighboring countries determine the cooperation rules in the context of ASF. So, as for Belarus, the trade will conduct on the principle of regionalization.
3. After ASF detection in Kalyta, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine canceled the moratorium on pig farm inspections. Now specialists of Veterinary watchdog can audit farms and give pieces of advice concerning biosecurity improvement.

But, despite all measures, the Ministry of agrarian police and food is bothered that the fight against the disease will delay up to 2017.

According to national FAO experts’ forecasts At the present moment, five regions of Ukraine are considered as troubled ones: Chernigiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Poltava and Rivne. But other parts of the country are under the thread of disease spread. These are Cherkasy, Vinnytsia and Kirovograd regions, as the citizens of Central Ukraine grow more pigs than in Northern part.

The situation is complicated by disease spread into wild fauna in Polissia. ASF is probably engrained in Sumy and Poltava regions, and its slow spread is the question of time.