We urge you to follow biosecurity rules on all livestock farms, especially those farms that raise pigs!

In connection with the detection of African swine fever in various border counties and parishes of Latvia, the Food and Veterinary Service has imposed quarantine and related binding regulations, which must be followed by any resident of Latvia or tourist in the quarantined territory.

.

.

For reference:

African swine fever (ASF) (African plague) Montgomery's disease is a highly contagious acute infectious disease of pigs, characterized by septicemia and very high mortality.

.

Initiator (ACM) and its durability: Only domestic, forest and other wild pigs are affected. ASF spreads in the pig population through direct or indirect contact. The virus is very resistant: in the external environment it persists for at least 11 days in feces (manure) at ambient temperature and for at least 1 month in a contaminated (tainted) pig pen, as well as for 1.5 years in blood at a temperature of +4°C, and even 8 years in lyophilized blood. ASF virus persists for a relatively long time in food products of pig origin: 150 days in pig carcasses at a temperature of +4°C, 140 days in salted pork, and many years in frozen pig carcasses. ASF virus dies in direct sunlight within 2–4 hours, when heated at a temperature of 70°C – within 30 minutes.

.

Transmission mechanism: ASFV can spread from one pig to another by direct contact, as well as indirectly – through contaminated (AFSV-contaminated) feed, transport vehicles and pig care equipment and inventory, as well as through the biological vector of the disease – Ornithodoros via ticks of the genus. In natural farms, the main mechanism of disease transmission is the feeding of uncooked kitchen waste containing ASF-infected pork to pigs. ASF is not treatable with medication, and no effective vaccine has been developed for the prevention of pig herds.

.

Clinical signs and course of the disease: Depending on the virulence of the ASF virus, the following are distinguished: peracute, acute, subacute and chronic course. Peracute course is characterized by sudden death. This is the first signal that the herd is infected. Acute ASF occurs in animals with an elevated temperature, they do not eat, and are lethargic. In pigs, blood spills are observed in the skin and internal organs, which are visible as cyanotic (bluish) spots on the tail, abdomen and distal ends of the legs. In pigs, a hunched gait can be observed, which indicates abdominal pain, constipation or profuse diarrhea. In animals, discharges are found from the nose and eyes, which are initially serous, later bloody (hemorrhagic) and purulent (purulent). In pregnant sows, pregnancy usually ends with abortion. Laboratory examination of aborted pigs can prove the presence of the ASF agent in the entire herd. The subacute course of the disease is similar to the acute form of ASF, only animals become ill less often and in a milder form. The chronic course of ASF can occur without any symptoms typical of the disease, the disease can be detected by examining sows that have aborted in the laboratory, looking for reasons for reduced appetite and weight loss in animals. ASF affects 100% of susceptible herds, but mortality after the disease depends on the virulence of the virus and ranges from a few percent to 100%.

.

Biosecurity measures: In order to protect animals and prevent the introduction of dangerous infectious diseases into their herd, the owner of the facility and the service personnel must observe and fulfill a number of important rules, the importance of which can be explained by the veterinarian serving the facility. Every farmer and livestock breeder who respects himself and his work must consider these rules as the norm of daily activities, and is obliged to fulfill them in good faith:

.

• Unauthorized persons are prohibited from entering the pig pen,
• Disinfectant mats must be installed at all entrances,
• General hygiene measures must be observed in the premises, with regular cleaning and disinfection, disinfestation and deratization measures being carried out in them,
• prevent and prevent contact of domestic pigs with pets (dogs, cats), wild birds and wild animals, mainly wild boars,
• do not feed pigs leftovers from game processing and unheated (the virus is killed by heating at 70°C for 30 minutes) kitchen waste,
• For any cases of pig disease, abortions of pregnant animals, or sudden death, immediately contact the veterinarian serving the facility.

.
 

The Latvian Rural Consultation and Education Center invites everyone involved in visiting farm animal shelters to:

• not visiting animal shelters without reason,
• disinfect vehicles before entering and leaving the animal shelter,
• When visiting an animal shelter, it is mandatory to wear an individual set of special clothing: a disposable cap, face mask, gown or overalls, and shoe covers,
• the used special clothing is handed over to the animal owner for disposal,
• The vehicle must be equipped with a portable hand disinfection device, a plastic tub in which to disinfect shoes before and after visiting the animal shelter,
• Disinfectants approved by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Republic of Latvia (FDA) that are effective against the ASF virus must be kept in the vehicle for the duration of the quarantine and used during farm visits to disinfect shoes and vehicles,
• It is unnecessary to mislead residents about actions and measures in the area affected by ASF,
• During the ASF quarantine, all persons involved in the livestock sector must strictly follow the instructions and requirements of the PVD.

.
 

We especially encourage the following to observe biosecurity measures: animal owners, animal shelter workers, veterinarians, artificial insemination technicians, livestock supervisors, livestock consultants, feed and feed additive traders, milk and animal collectors/buyers, and vehicle drivers who ensure the delivery of goods to livestock farms.