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Head of Russian consumer rights agency skeptical about Lithuania's plans to build fence along Belarusian border

Gennady Onishchenko, head of Russia's consumer rights agency Rospotrebnadzor, on Wednesday expressed skepticism over Lithuania's plans to build a fence along the Belarusian border in an effort to prevent the spread of the African swine fever virus, BelaPAN said.

The plans were announced by the Lithuanian government earlier this summer. Vilnius also asked the European Commission for a grant of €3.5 million for combating the spread of the contagious disease.

"Let them put the fence, but the measure is useless," said Mr. Anishchanka, adding that the virus may cross the border if infected meat was illegally imported. In addition, he warned, the virus may be transmitted through contact with animal feeds such as grain. "Grain cannot be brought out of a region hit by African swine fever," he said.

On July 8, Russia's veterinary agency Rosselkhoznadzor introduced a temporary ban on imports of live hogs, pork and hog feeds from the Vitsyebsk region amid an outbreak of African swine fever in the area.

Cases of the deadly virus were confirmed at a state-owned hog farm close to Vitsyebsk last week. The agriculture ministry said that authorities were carrying out a set of measures to contain the spread of the infection.

Belarus' first-ever officially registered case of the virus was reported in the Iwye district, Hrodna region, in June.

Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine have since banned pork imports from Belarus. Russia still imports pork from the Brest, Homyel, Mahilyow and Minsk regions.