Food Safety Agency strengthens control on products coming out of pig farms

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency said on July 24 that it was increasing the control on the production that comes out of the pig farms because of the outbreaks of African swine fever. The aim is to ensure that no contaminated meat reaches the market.

The total number of outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs has reached 19. A large number of the cases are of unregistered domestic pigs. The affected large industrial farms are already two – in the villages of Nikolovo and Brushlen, Rousse district. Since the beginning of the year, 20 cases of infected wild boars have been reported. Although the virus is causing increasing concern to farmers, many people are unaware of the severity of the disease, the Food Safety Agency alarmed. There are cases of dead pigs thrown out, which is a prerequisite for spreading the disease.

The Food Safety Agency closely monitors the route of the meat from affected farms to the shops for 35 days back in time. If infected meat is identified in slaughterhouses, the options are either to be subjected to a high heat treatment in which the virus dies or destroyed in a rendering plant.

The Food Safety Agency once again stressed that the disease is not dangerous for humans, but people can transmit it. Therefore, a number of preventive measures should be followed.

African swine fever leads to 100% mortality in pigs. Animals die from the disease within 2 days after the virus develops. The short life of sick pigs is not a prerequisite for not culling them, experts said.