Nearly 100,000 pigs will be culled after an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak was detected at one of Ukraine's biggest pig farms, the Ukrainian state food safety service said on Wednesday. This outbreak affects 1.6% of Ukraine's pig herd and could become the worst ever in the country, Reuters reports. The largest case to date, that resulted in 60,000 culled pigs, took place in 2015 in the Kiev region. On Aug. 18, the ASF-infected pigs were discovered at the Halychyna Zahid agriculture firm in western Ukraine's Lviv region. The company's Facebook page confirmed the outbreak, but it did not respond to requests for further comment, Reuters reports. For years, Ukraine has been trying to overcome the fatal disease that has no cure or vaccine. The ASF virus is highly contagious among pigs but is not dangerous to humans and poses no food safety risk. Since 2017, Ukraine has detected 351 cases of ASF, and 72,226 pigs have been culled. More from Farm Journal's PORK: African Swine Fever Found on Two Farms in Russia OIE Passes African Swine Fever Global Resolution African Swine Fever Spurs Change Around the Globe
The Ukrainian state food safety service has confirmed 351 pigs will be culled after Ukrainian swine fever (ASF) was detected on 18 August at an agricultural firm in the western Lviv region. Analysts said the outbreak could be the country's worst ever, as it affects 1.6% of Ukraine 's pig herd. The authorities have identified more than 72,200 ASF cases since 18 August and culled almost 100,000 pigs.