The new swine disease global surveillance report was released earlier this week. Coordinated by the University of Minnesota in collaboration with the Swine Health Information Center, the aim of these reports is to have a structure for near real-time identification of hazards. In this report, updates are focusing on African Swine Fever in China and Belgium, Classical Swine Fever in Brazil and Japan, Foot and Mouth Disease in Colombia.
African Swine Fever
CHINA
Since last August, 30 outbreaks of ASF have been reported in China spreading through nine provinces. So far in October, seven outbreaks occurred, five of them in the province of Liaoning in the northeast of the country where the first case was reported two months ago. This peak in the number of outbreaks suggests the situation still remains far from
under control.
BELGIUM
Belgium keeps investigating the presence of the disease in the wild boar population. Fences and gates were built aiming to isolate an area, but so far 84 animals were detected positive since the first detection of the disease in the country, on September 13. There are several theories regarding introduction of the virus in this region in Europe and the role people play in carrying swine by-products or even hunting materials into this region is being discussed and investigated.
Classical Swine Fever
BRAZIL
On October 8, Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) reported an outbreak of CSF in a backyard free-range farm located in the state of Ceará (Forquilha-CE). The outbreak was reported to the veterinary service, where high mortality rates and clinical signs (anorexia, fever, incoordination) were observed in sows and younger pigs. The fatality rate was 97 percent and the remaining animals were euthanized. The farm was then isolated followed by the euthanasia for the animals, sanitary destruction of carcasses, disinfection, a restriction of movements in the region, and an initiation of an investigation in surrounding farms.
JAPAN
One month after the identification of the outbreak of CSF in Japan, investigations were implemented in the region of Gifu Prefecture, along with 25 other Prefectures. Overall, 19 wild boars were found positive (15 percent) for CSF in Gifu, and no positive animals were identified elsewhere. Investigations are ongoing.
Foot and Mouth Disease
Currently, the following countries have reported the presence of FMD in swine: China, Colombia, South Korea, North Korea, and Russia.
COLOMBIA
On October 10, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA, by its Spanish acronym) reported an outbreak of FMD in a swine farm, located in the Departamento de Cesar, north of the country and very close to the Venezuelan border. Ten days prior, another outbreak was identified in cattle, in a city located approximately 500 miles (800km) away, in Departamento de Boyaca. Both regions have vaccination coverage and were recognized as “free with vaccination” on December 2017.
The full report with maps and location of the various outbreaks is available to read here.