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African Swine Fever Reason for Russian Ban

African swine fever hit Russia's southern Rostov Region in late September, and then spread to the neighboring Republic of Kalmykia. Besides the two regions the disease has been registered in five other regions in Russia's south, including North Ossetia, the republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia, and the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories. Because of this problem, Belarus has banned pork imports from Russia.

A spokeswoman for the country's food and agriculture ministry blames the worsening African swine fever situation in Russia. Earlier, in mid-October Ukraine tightened border controls with Russia in order to prevent the spreading of swine fever to its territory.

African swine fever was first reported in Africa in 1903. Both domestic and wild animals can become infected when they come into contact with sick animals. The virus does not affect humans.