ASF lands on a new continent: Dominican Republic confirms its presence

Published Jul 29, 2021

Tridge summary

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic has confirmed the presence of African swine fever (ASF) in the country, marking the first time the disease has been detected in the Americas in over 40 years. The disease was found in a small population of backyard pigs in the Sánchez Ramírez and Montecristi provinces. The Dominican Government has activated the National Emergency Committee for Exotic Diseases of Domestic Animals and has prohibited the entry and exit of live and slaughtered pigs in the affected provinces to contain the spread of the disease. The United States, which shares a border with the Dominican Republic, has offered to help in the fight against ASF.

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Original content

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic has confirmed the presence of African swine fever (ASF) after learning the results of the 389 samples belonging to pigs raised on farms and backyards sent to the laboratory of the Center for Animal Diseases of Plum Island (USA). The Ministry has ensured that the disease is present "in a small population of backyard pigs in the Sánchez Ramírez and Montecristi provinces." The arrival of ASF in the Dominican Republic means the leap to the American continent of the disease - where it stopped being present 40 years ago. Now, ASF is already found on all five continents. In fact, it has been detected both in Europe, with many countries affected, such as Africa or Asia. In addition, in 2020 it reached Papua New Guinea, the first country in Oceania affected. In recent years, ASF has hit hard in Asia, considerably reducing the pig herd in countries like China and spreading unstoppably throughout Southeast Asia. As for the American ...

Source: Animalshealth