African swine fever detected in Estonia for first time, warnings issued

African swine fever has been detected in Estonia for the first time.

The disease, which causes mass death rates in pigs, was detected on a wild boar piglet in Estonia's Valga region in Hummuli county last week, national broadcasting reports. 

Director General of the Veterinary and Food Board Ago Partel warned farmers to follow essential bio safety measures in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

"The dead piglet was found six kilometers from Latvia's border. Domestic pigs are not infected with the disease. In order to keep the disease from spreading, all animal breeders must protect their livestock from the virus and follow bio-safety measures. Only then it will be possible to prevent the disease from reaching the domestic pigs."

There are 15 pig farms in an eight kilometer radius around the place where the dead piglet was found. These farms are applied with various transport and slaughtering restrictions, as well as additional bio-safety regulations.

All the farms in the vicinity have been informed about the new restrictions.

Estonian Agriculture Minister Ivar Padar has called a meeting of the national disease control committee.

The minister said the spread of the swine fever would have some effects on the meat market.

"Export of live pigs will probably be limited. Meat and meat products, on the other hand, will not be affected," he added.

African swine fever has been detected in Latvia and Lithuania previously leading to a state of emergency to be declared in some regions.

(Edited by Rayyan Sabet-Parry)