African swine fever spreading into Europe: FAO

African swine fever, a viral disease deadly to pigs but harmless to human beings, is spreading beyond Russia and the Caucasus region into Europe, the United Nations' food agency said Thursday.

"African swine fever is fast becoming a global issue," said Juan Lubroth, chief veterinary officer for the Food and Agriculture Organization.

"It now poses an immediate threat to Europe and beyond. Countries need to be on the alert and to strengthen their preparedness and contingency plans," he said.

The disease, for which there is currently no vaccine, was introduced into Georgia from southern Africa late in 2006. It entered through the Black Sea port of Poti, where garbage from a ship was taken to a dump where pigs came to feed, the FAO said.

Strategies to tackle African swine fever include quarantine, on-farm security and other measures aimed at minimizing the risk of introduction and establishing of the disease.

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