Lithuania, Markets and Companies

According to Linas Tiskus, Head of Utena State Food and Veterinary Service, under the decision of the Commission, the boundaries of the state of emergency were established: Tauragnai and Saldutiskis parishes; meanwhile, the farmstead of the farmer, whose pigs died of ASF, was declared as an outbreak of ASF.

3 and 10 kilometre protection and surveillance zones were established around the site of the outbreak. All pig farmers within the radius of 3 kilometres were calculated; blood samples of their animals were taken and brought to laboratory on Thursday. The samples of pigs from the surveillance zone are still being taken; they will be tested on Friday.

"After receiving negative results, farmers in the protection zone will slaughter their pigs and use for their purposes, of course, without taking them outside the boundaries of the protection zone. Farmers in the surveillance zone will naturally be encouraged to do not raise pigs to avoid losses in the event of the disease," said Tiskus.

On Friday, the state of emergency in Utena district should be declared at the national level.

At present, the state of emergency has been declared in Ignalina, Trakai, Varena, Druskininkai, Lazdijai, Salcininkai and Alytus districts.

As reported, one more case of ASF was established in a private farm in Utena district Skloblu village on Wednesday.

In early 2014 the virus was found in dead boars. On 24 July the disease erupted in a pig farm managed by Danish capital company Idavang in Ignalina district. 19,000 pigs in this farm had to be cullied.