ASF found in products of Mahilou meat-processing factory

The African swine fever virus genome has been found in products made by the Mahilou meat-processing factory.

Interfax learnt it from the Russian National Research Institute for Veterinary Virology and Microbiology.

The genome was discovered in half of the samples.

The first case was detected at the beginning of October. The ASF virus genome was found in the products of the Orsha meat-processing factory. Russia's agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor enhanced the monitoring of pork and pork products supplied from Belarus to Russia.

The incident causes concerns as Belarus claims no ASF cases have been detected in the Mahilou region. The Russian National Research Institute for Veterinary Virology and Microbiology does not rule out that the information about the disease was hidden.

Rosselkhoznadzor declines to give comments so far, saying it “holds regular consultations with Belarus”.