Outbreak of ASF will lead to the destruction of 26 thousand pigs at the JSC "Orelselprom" (part of Cherkizovo group, said TASS Deputy head of the veterinary Department of the Orel region Vitaly Saratov.

"Livestock enterprise is 56 thousand heads, destruction of the subject about 26 thousand heads. Elimination of livestock has already begun", he said.

Previously, Cherkizovo group said about the localization of foci of African swine fever (ASF) in enterprises in Orel and Voronezh oblasts.

The Federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance of the Russian Federation (Rosselkhoznadzor) found gene ASF on farms "agroresources-Voronezh" and CJSC "Orelselprom" (part of the agricultural holding "Cherkizovo"). Livestock from the affected farms in December of the current year there were on pig company Tambov, Voronezh, Orel, Belgorod, Smolensk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Penza, Nizhny Novgorod regions, found the veterinary service.

The Cherkizovo group is one of the largest producers and processors of poultry and pork in Russia, the company's consolidated revenue in 2013 exceeded $ 1.6 billion.

ASF is not dangerous to humans, but deadly to wild and domestic pigs. Infected livestock is destroyed to prevent further spread of the disease.