Penza, 26 January 2016. PenzaNews. Six pigs in the part-time swine farm belonging to the Penza penal colony No. 8 and located outside the penal institution were presumably diagnosed with African swine fever.

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The symptoms of the fever were discovered by a veterinarian in the part-time farm on Monday, January 25, the press service of the Penza region Federal Penitentiary Service department Andrei Popkov told PenzaNews agency.

“The veterinary service were forced to resort to emergency slaughter of the affected animals and took samples for analysis that were sent to the vet lab of the Penza region. The samples tested positive for African swine fever. The samples were sent to the vet lab in Pokrov of the Vladimir region to conduct independent examination and confirm the diagnosis,” he explained.

The final diagnosis will be announced on Wednesday, January 27, he clarified.

“Right now, we have created a disease aftermath cleanup crisis center. The penal colony No. 8 underwent a series of emergency measures as per the plan in case an outbreak of African swine fever is detected. We are conducting joint measures with the local offices of the Penza region veterinarian service and the local Rosselkhoznadzor department. Anti-epizootic dispatches are active in the part-time swine farms in penal colonies No. 8 and No. 4,” Andrei Popkov said.

He stressed that the affected part-time farm was quarantined, with a ban for transporting outside any animals, animal carcasses, pig farming products, pig foods, appliances or other items that may have been contaminated with the African swine fever virus.

“We are using the required equipment, personal protective equipment, the experts are conducting the measures to eliminate the African swine fever outbreak in full. They use special vet machinery – a mobile disinfection station,” he added.