The Ministry of Agriculture confirms the African swine fever in Albania

2024-12-27 17:26:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Ministry of Agriculture confirms the African swine fever in Albania

Illustrative photo

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed the spread of African swine fever in Albania.

The Ministry of Agriculture announces that on December 25 cases of swine plague were detected in the village of Ishull - Lezhë.

According to the announcement, the dead animals have been buried, while the living ones have been quarantined. Several measures have also been taken to prevent the spread of African plague.

The Ministry of Agriculture states that African swine fever is not a disease that affects humans.

Full statement:

In the framework of public transparency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development informs the citizens that on December 25, 2024, by the official veterinarian of the service for the Shengjin Administrative Unit, it was established that in the village of Ishull - Lezhë, at the farmer Vitor Zef Jushi with farm code AL091919860492, with 71 pigs died in 8 pigs. On December 26, 2024, the Veterinary Service of the Lezha Sector went to the farm and found the death of 7 other cattle. The dead animals were immediately buried, the environment was disinfected, and official samples (carcass and organs) were taken, which were sent to the ISUV with an accompanying document for suspected African Swine Fever disease, according to the established protocol.

The samples sent from the carcasses of mild and crossbred pigs, from the Regional Veterinary Service of Lezhë District, to the Reference Laboratory - Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine, on 26.12.2024, have been positive with the RT - PCR confirmatory test, for the presence of African Swine Fever disease.

The farm, which was immediately put under veterinary surveillance, was in the surveillance area 10 km from the epicenter on Mount Rrenci. It was checked 3 times during the quarantine period on 27.11.2024 and on 02.12.2024 and 09.12.2024, where it was found that the animals on the farm were in good health.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the law-enforcement structures have taken measures and are ready for every case for the management in time and without delay to limit the spread of the disease.

Today, on 27.12.2024, the meeting of the National Crisis Center was held and Order No. 1131 "On taking restrictive measures for the prevention and control of the African Plague disease in domestic pigs" entered into force, in which additional measures are recommended for:

1. Prohibition of the sale and trading of live pigs in open areas and live animal markets, in the territory of Lezhë Municipality.

2. Prohibition in the territory of Lezhë Municipality of the movement of live pigs from farm to farm and from farm to markets, fairs and exhibitions of live animals.

3. The official veterinarian with the approval of the holder of DRVMB can authorize the movement of pigs bred from farms without the presence of the disease, which are located in the protection zone, directly to a slaughterhouse, which is located as close as possible to the farm of origin and within the protection zone, or in the surveillance zone, when it is not possible to slaughter the animals in the protection zone.

4. To carry out inventory and tracking with confirmatory laboratory tests for African Swine Fever disease, in the protection and surveillance areas, in the Administrative Units: Shengjin, Kolsh, Zejmen, Lezhë, Balldre, Kallmet and Shënkoll of Lezhë Municipality.

5. To strengthen the taking of measures to control the movement of animals, the implementation of Biosecurity measures and sanitary-veterinary measures in the area of ??protection and supervision in the Administrative Units of Shengjin, Kolsh, Zejmen, Lezhë, Balldre, Kallmet and Shënkoll.

We call on animal owners to implement quarantine and biosecurity measures, private veterinarians, veterinary technicians, heads of local government units, forest service employees and hunters, to inform in any case of suspicion or presence of clinical signs in pigs. contact the Regional Veterinary Service on the toll-free number 08003366 or in the official way at the e-mail address [email protected].

We inform the citizens that African Swine Fever is not a disease that affects humans, but it is of great importance for the economy and the health of the pig population in our country.