Regional Swine Health Program
Regional Project for the Eradication of Classical Swine Fever (CSF)
International Recognition of free countries before the OMSA
Since August 2016, countries in Central America, Mexico, and Panama have self-declared themselves free from Classical Swine Fever (CSF). CSF is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs with a significant economic impact. It was first detected in the United States in the 19th century.
OIRSA has provided assistance to the Ministries and Secretaries of Agriculture and Livestock of member countries, offering technical advice and financing to meet the requirements for the preparation of necessary dossiers within the efforts to achieve recognition as CSF-free countries by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
In this regard, there is currently a robust diagnostic capacity in the animal health laboratories of the region, internationally accredited for ELISA and RT-PCR tests for Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and African Swine Fever (ASF). Additionally, the rapid response capacity of the veterinary services of member countries is gradually strengthened through ongoing training for field detection of clinical signs, as well as the implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of epidemiological surveillance of CSF, ASF, and other swine diseases.
Regional Project for the Prevention of African Swine Fever in free countries (Mexico, Belize, Central America, and Panama)
OIRSA, along with the Ministries and Secretaries of Agriculture and Livestock of member countries, is developing a harmonized plan for the region to implement actions aimed at maintaining countries free of ASF. This includes communication campaigns, training, and awareness-raising for veterinary services, producers, and the general population, as well as the implementation and maintenance of epidemiological surveillance in the field, strengthening diagnostic capacity in laboratories, and excluding the virus through increased non-intrusive inspection with canine teams at ports and airports that represent a higher risk of disease introduction due to their location.
Project for the Control and Eradication of African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic
Since July 2021, OIRSA has been continuously supporting the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Directorate of Livestock in the efforts to control and eradicate ASF in the Dominican territory, providing technical and economic assistance for the creation and implementation of the action plan for the animal health emergency, training and strengthening the official veterinary service for the timely attention and deactivation of outbreaks, the biosecure disposal of swine carcasses and the correct cleaning and disinfection process for compliance with the protocol for closing cases approved by OMSA.
OIRSA, with the strategic support of the Plant and Animal Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-APHIS), together with the General Directorate of Livestock of the Ministry of Agriculture (DIGEGA-MARD), contributes to ASF containment through the implementation of specialized canine teams empowered to detect and seize pork products and by-products at ports and airports exits, thus preventing the disease from spreading to other countries in the Americas.
As a result of the joint efforts of the involved organizations, the Dominican Republic now has an internationally accredited diagnostic capacity in the official animal health laboratory of DIGEGA, the Central Veterinary Laboratory (LAVECEN). The official veterinary service has the technical capacity and necessary funding to maintain active and passive epidemiological surveillance uninterruptedly and gradually implement control and monitoring of pig movements throughout the Dominican territory.