An outbreak of African swine fever has been confirmed at a farm of about 6,000 animals in the western Romanian small town of Olari, Arad County, and the authorities will preventively cull 700 pigs isolated in one part of the farm, but there is a risk that the others will be killed as well, if the virus spreads.
Head of the Arad Animal Health and Food Safety Directorate (DSVSA) Marcel Rosu told AGERPRES on Monday that the affected farm currently has 5,900 pigs, but it is divided in two, and the disease has been confirmed in a part where there are 700 animals.
"It is necessary to cull these pigs in the affected part of the farm, we have just established the procedures, and today the operation begins. The animals will be buried, because in Romania there is no facility to incinerate hundreds of animals in a short time. A plot of land was found near the farm, which meets all the conditions for burying animals in safe conditions," said Rosu.
He added that if the virus is confirmed on the other side of the farm, then the other 5,200 pigs will also be killed preventively.
Following this new outbreak of swine fever, the Arad Local Centre for Disease Control (CLCB) approved a plan of measures to contain the disease. Among them, the establishment of a protection zone around the outbreak, of three kilometres, which includes Olari and Sintea Mica. At the same time, a surveillance area was established within a radius of ten kilometres, which includes Nadab, Zarand, Cintei, Tipar, Santana, Caporal Alexa and Simand.
Four outbreaks of swine fever are currently confirmed in the county, but the other three are in households, at Iclau, Nadlac and the county seat of Arad. The first outbreak was confirmed on October 6.
In Arad County there are 22 large pig farms of over 60,000 head.
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