ASF virus circulating in the Dominican Republic earlier than thought

African swine fever was first reported in south of Haiti but since then ten cases have been reported in the north.

Haiti has reported the first outbreak of ASF since 1984.

The disease has already been confirmed in 25 of the 32 provinces, which correspond to the largest pig producing areas.

The entry of porcine ingredients in luggage represents a high risk for the introduction of African swine fever.

A total of 33 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean agreed to join efforts to support the DR in implementing actions to control and eradicate African swine fever and prevent its spread.

The authorities are going to intervene in the backyard farms in these provinces to prevent further spread of the disease.

Following the confirmation of African swine fever (ASF) positive pigs in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Colombia have taken extreme sanitary measures to prevent the introduction of this serious disease.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed African swine fever (ASF) in samples collected from pigs in the Dominican Republic through an existing cooperative surveillance program.