OIE asks for tighter border controls as ASF hits the Americas
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has called on countries to strengthen their surveillance efforts after African swine fever (ASF) reaches the Americas for the first time in almost 40 years.
ASF has become a major crisis for the pork industry in recent years, putting the livelihood of many smallholders at stake and destabilising the global market of pork products.
The disease has spread to more than 50 countries in Africa, Europe and Asia since 2018.
The Dominican Republic has notified the World Animal Health Information System of the reoccurrence of ASF after years of being free from the disease.
Dr Luis Barcos, OIE Regional Representative for the Americas, said: “The great diversity of production and trade systems that currently coexist in the Americas Region pose unique additional challenges when it comes to facing this disease.
“But the situation does not find us unprepared, as we have been anticipating an event like this for several years now.”
The OIE and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have called on countries to reinforce their border controls, as well as to implement the OIE international Standards on ASF to mitigate the risk of disease introduction. An emergency management team has also been established to support the affected and neighbouring countries.
