There is no vaccination or cure for African swine fever virus – Transcarpathian State Consumer Protection Service

The epizootic situation with rabies and African swine fever in Transcarpathian region is gradually becoming stabilized. This was the main message of today’s briefing by Ivan Huledza, the head of the Main Office of the State Consumer Protection Service in Transcarpathian region. The event was held with the participation of Yuliy Shimon, the Head of the Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine Department and other specialists, the Transcarpathian State Consumer Protection Service reported.

      According to the head of the State Consumer Protection Service in the region, during the years 2017-2018, a rather unstable situation with regard to the African swine fever virus was observed in the region.

      So, in 2018, there were 11 cases of African swine fever virus in the wild fauna in the region. However, thanks to the joint efforts of our department, the State Emergencies Service and the Forestry Service, we were able to take measures to prevent the spread of the virus to human settlements.

      Since the beginning of 2019, no cases of African swine fever have been detected, although three risk areas have been identified since 2018 – Beregovo, Perechyn and Tyachiv districts. All of them were sanitized in March.

      Since there are no vaccines and treatments against African swine fever virus, the specialists of the Main Office are focused on preventing the spread of the virus.

     As for rabies, since 2012, vaccination of foxes and other wild carnivores against rabies has been carried out in our region and in other regions bordering the European Union states (in particular, Poland and Hungary). At the same time, an annual vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies is conducted on the territory of Transcarpathia.

     This year, 16 positive results have been recorded during the analysis of pathological materials, including 12 from foxes, 2 from cattle, one from a dog and one from a cat.