Jamaica on High Alert for African Swine Fever

The African Swine Fever (ASF) which has killed millions of pigs globally has been detected in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, July 28. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory detected the African Swine Fever in samples taken from pigs in the Dominican Republic.

The discovery has put countries in the region and internationally on high alert. Agriculture Minister Floyd says the detection of the virus in the region means Jamaica needs to put measures in place to reduce the risk of the virus entering the country.

The African Swine Flu is harmless to humans but can significantly threaten a country’s pig population. In 2018 the African Swine Fever wiped out more than half of China’s pig population. Minister Green says the disease could be very devastating to Jamaica.

The Agriculture Ministry says it will be working with the Jamaica Customs Agency, the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, the Passport Immigration Citizenship Agency (PICA), pig farmers, and citizens to reduce the likelihood of the disease entering Jamaica. The African Swine Fever can enter the country through the importation of infected pork products, contaminated equipment, vehicles, feed, and clothing.

Minister Green says Jamaica’s Emergency Animal Disease Committee will be activated next week. In the meantime, the USDA says it is committed to assisting the Dominican Republic through continued testing support. It will also provide similar help to Haiti, which borders the Dominican Republic.

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