Don Veterinary Service held interregional exercises to eliminate African swine fever

In the Oktyabrsky district of the Rostov region, interregional special exercises were held to organize and conduct veterinary measures to eliminate the focus of African swine fever (ASF) in a pig farm.
Recommendations for conducting command and staff exercises were given to regional veterinary services by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture in 2021. The purpose of the exercises is to maintain constant readiness for prompt response in the event of an unfavorable epizootic situation.
Veterinary specialists from the Rostov, Volgograd regions, Stavropol and Krasnodar regions, representatives of the ROSSELKHOZNADZOR , Rospotrebnadzor, the Ministry of Natural Resources, administration, employees of the GUFSIN, police, students and teachers of the DonGAU took part in the ASF training in the village of Persianovsky.
Alexander Ovcharov, deputy HEAD of the veterinary department of the Rostov region, headed the exercises. The organization and methodological guidance was carried out by the Acting DIRECTOR of the Rostov Regional Station for the Control of Animal Diseases Alexei Vasiliev.
The topic of the exercises was not chosen by chance, in 2022 alone, 27 outbreaks of ASF were registered in the Russian Federation, of which 9 were among domestic pigs and 18 among wild boars.
“African swine fever causes the death of domestic and wild pigs in 100% of cases. ASF does not pose a danger to humans, but causes serious damage to the agricultural industry, as it cannot be treated and vaccinated among animals. The vaccine has not yet been developed,” said Alexander Ovcharov.
The theoretical part of the training was held on the basis of the main building of the Don State Agrarian University, the practical part - in the Donskoy Uchkhoz. In addition, members of a special commission for the prevention and elimination of especially dangerous and contagious animal diseases in the Oktyabrsky district were convened to the meeting in real time.
“The Rostov region first encountered African swine fever in 2009 in the village of Romanovka, Salsky district. In 2010, the trouble did not bypass the Oktyabrsky district, on the territory of which the Donskoy State Agrarian University is located, ”said Alexei Vasiliev.
According to the legend of the exercises in the pig farm of industrial pig rearing Uchkhoz Donskoy (compartment - II), there was a death of 20 heads of pigs of the group of 4-6 months. In 10 heads of pigs, clinical signs characteristic of ASF are observed (hyperemia of the skin of the ears, fever, diarrhea, bloody discharge from the nasal cavity).
The participants were divided into seven groups. Then, sequentially, starting from the moment information about a suspected disease was received, the participants of the training event worked out sampling, diagnostics, holding meetings of special commissions, introducing restrictive measures, alienating animals, destroying corpses, disinfecting premises and territory, lifting quarantine restrictions, and informing the population through the media. Acted in accordance with the new ASF veterinary regulations.
In total, about 100 specialists from various departments and municipalities took part in the training.