WORLD
Latvian Saeima declares state of emergency in area hit by swine-fever outbreak
Baku, July 4 (AZERTAC). The final decision was made by Saeima yesterday, with 72 MPs voting ''for'' and another 11 parliamentarians not participating in the vote.
Addressing parliament today, Agriculture Minister Janis Duklavs (Greens/Farmers) urged Saeima to support the government's decision, so that the measures taken to help stop the spread of the outbreak can be implemented as soon as possible.
The minister also added that state services have all the necessary funds to carry out their work. However, the government has agreed that, if necessary, additional funding will be made available from emergency funds.
The state of emergency has been declared in an area the size of 5,000 square kilometers in southeastern Latvia.
The state of emergency zone is wider than the quarantine zone, as it will include countries bordering the quarantine zone.
At the same time, vehicles will be inspected on a regular basis, and there have been restrictions of vehicle movement also implemented in the area.
The decree states that Food and Veterinary Service inspectors can access private property to carry out all the necessary measures to disinfect and stop the spread of the disease.
As reported, after carrying out detailed laboratory tests, the Food and Veterinary Service has confirmed the existence of African swine fever in southeastern Latvia.
African swine fever is not harmful to humans. This is the first time that African swine fever has been registered in the territory of Latvia.