Local media reports claim that some pigs may have already died of the disease.

According to the statement, the first studies showed that the symptoms of the disease are similar to those of African swine fever. It said preventive measures had been taken in this community several months ago. The experts recommended that the villagers keep pigs indoors to avoid re-infection.

"However, this important warning was clearly ignored and that could have contributed to the new outbreak of the infection," said the statement.

In 2010 the disease killed over 200 pigs in Armenia and several hundreds were culled by their owners to prevent the disease’s spread.