Jamaican Farmers on High Alert for Prevention of African Swine Fever

#Jamaica, September 18, 2021 – “Protect your farms, protect your investment”.

That’s the call from the Veterinary Services Division (VSD) in light of the recent re-emergence of African Swine Fever in the Caribbean.

Though African Swine Fever cannot be transferred from animals to humans, this highly contagious and deadly viral disease can quickly wipe out the swine population.  Discovered in Kenya in 1921, the disease affected both domestic and wild pigs, spreading as far as Brazil, Hispaniola and Cuba.

In 2018, China lost more than half of its entire pig population, which equates to 150 million pigs, from the disease.  China’s reality may be in the past and far away in Asia; however, the presence of the disease rests one 755 kilometre plane ride east of Jamaica, in the La Altagracia province in the Dominican Republic.  Eighteen of that country’s 32 provinces have been infected with the disease, with 51,000 pigs slaughtered as a result of the illness.

Currently, Jamaica enjoys being free from African Swine Fever, but that reality can be shattered if tight surveillance measures are not maintained and if Jamaicans do not play their part.  Enter the VSD, which has a critical role in monitoring the animals and meat that enter the country.

Chief Veterinarian at the VSD, Dr. Osbil Watson, said prior to this re-emergence, the last known case of the disease was about 40 years ago in the 1980s.

“You know, it’s frightening, because no other country in the Americas is reporting it, so far, in recent times. Every single country in every single continent in the Americas from South America, all the way up to North America, Canada, the United States, Central America and the Caribbean, we are all concerned, based on the devastating nature of this disease,” Dr. Watson said.

“This disease can literally wipe out your entire swine population. The mortality rate from the disease is up to 100 per cent and you will know that they have it because your pigs start to die. Sometimes, they start to die without showing any signs. Sometimes they may have a fever, they go off feed, they may have diarrhoea and they may show some other signs,” He explained.

At the level of government and regulators, the VSD is working with the Jamaica Customs Agency to minimise the entrance of any illegal pork products through the island’s borders.

Farmers are also expected to play a major role in prevention by practising good biosecurity measures. This refers to a series of management steps and practices implemented to prevent the introduction of infectious agents into a herd or flock. These measures also prevent the spread of these agents through the herd and out of the herd to other herds or flocks.

Farmers are being advised not to facilitate persons from overseas who wish to visit their farms. Farmers are also being cautioned to ensure they are clean before interacting with their livestock.

By: Twila Wheelan