African Swine Fever has now claimed another country in Asia. The disease is now in Myanmar a country west of the previous known outbreaks. A National Pork Board release says if eastern Russia is included, that makes eight Asian countries that are struggling with the disease. The World Organization for Animal Health says two provinces in far-eastern Russia that aren?t far from the Chinese border have recently reported new outbreaks of the disease on multiple farms. While ASF cases have been found in eastern Russia before, these provinces hadn?t been affected by outbreaks until recently.
The United Nation?s Food and Agricultural Organization says Myanmar?s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation confirmed the first ASF outbreak occurred on August 1. It?s in the northwest part of the country near the Chinese border. Other outbreaks then occurred on August 10 and 11, respectively, also in the northeast part of the country. Elsewhere, officials in the Philippines have seen suspiciously high mortality in backyard pigs recently. As a result, the multi-island nation is setting up animal inspection points and a quarantine area so officials can check pigs for signs of African Swine Fever. Many cities and provinces within the country are taking additional action to help prevent the spread of ASF.
