KAPAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. It is for several days that mass deaths of farm animals, especially pigs, have been registered in the villages of Syunik and Geghanush of Kapan region. 85 out of 120 pigs in the farm of Arshavir Arshakian, resident of Syunik village, have died over the past month. "Upon noticing it, we called a veterinary - he said this is brucellosis. Animals were given drugs but we suspect that they had foot-and-mouth disease: there was foam at their mouths and their hooves fell off," A. Arshakian said. During a talk with NT correspondent, head of the village of Syunik Samvel Sargsian noted that altough animals are being vaccinated with state funds, this program does not envisage vaccination of pigs. According to the chief veterinary of Syunik marz Edgar Tokhsants, it still cannot be said definitely that the animals had a food-and-mouth disease. "Veterinary examinations are now ubderway at the republican laboratory. The situation will become clear in a few days," E. Tokhsants said, adding that a big batch of special vaccine has been received, and starting from May 18, all animals in the communities considered as suspected pestholes will be vaccinated. Control has been increased at all points of meat sale.

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