Kaliningrad authorities do not predict a shortage of pork in the region due to outbreaks of ASF

The Kaliningrad region does not experience a shortage of pork meat due to outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) that have arisen in the region, a shortage is not expected, Dmitry Lyskov, spokesman for the region's governor, told Interfax on Monday.

“Currently, there is no shortage of pork meat on the market and is not expected. Quite large stocks of meat of this species have been formed in the region,” he said.

Lyskov added that if all keepers of the pig herd where the ASF outbreak occurred treat and dispose of the animals responsibly, then the outbreak will be extinguished in a short time and prevent its further spread.

“For our part, we urge all owners of pigs in the areas of the outbreak of ASF to listen to common sense and legislation and voluntarily hand over the animal for disposal,” the governor’s spokesman concluded.

Earlier it was reported that at the end of July in the Kaliningrad region, after more than a two-year break, an outbreak of African swine fever was registered. After that, there were several more outbreaks. In mid-August, the ASF virus was detected at the Baltic Meat Company Tri LLC. To prevent the introduction of the ASF virus into the region, the government of the Kaliningrad region has established a quarantine strip on the borders with Lithuania and Poland.

African swine fever is a viral disease that usually kills domestic and wild pigs. Treatment of the disease is not provided, the vaccine has not yet been developed. Wild boars are the natural reservoir of the virus. The ASF virus does not pose a danger to humans, although scientists do not exclude that it can mutate.