February 27, 2025

 

Guatemala self-declares as classical swine fever-free

 

 

Guatemala has "self-declared" itself as classical swine fever-free, and is now working to achieve global recognition by the World Organization for Animal Health as  there have been no cases of CSF in the country since 2016.

 

This has been a focus of Guatemala's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, with the country taking several actions in order to obtain the official status.

 

For example, the Vice Ministry of Agricultural Health and Regulations, through the Directorate of Animal Health, with the support of the Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Risk Analysis and the National Program for Swine Health, has been conducting serological sampling on family and commercial farms. This is a preventive monitoring that is maintained throughout the year, especially since the outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

 

There is also a traceability system in place in which pig sites, transport units, and transporters are registered, as well as their operation, with a prior evaluation or a biosecurity audit of the protocols they must comply with.

 

PRONASPORC ensures the health of the national herd and thus prevents the entry of any pathogen that could affect it. To achieve this, pig farmers are trained and emphasis is placed on the importance of biosecurity on farms.

 

Guatemala's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food also credits the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health, as special surveillance is maintained at the country's international airports, with canine teams to verify incoming merchandise and thus prevent the transmission of diseases.

 

Another important aspect to becoming CSF-free is the work of the National Animal Health Laboratory and the Regional Reference Laboratory for Animal Health, which are responsible for carrying out the diagnostic tests, the results of which allow cases of pigs with ASF and CSF to be ruled out.

 

Guatemala is an integral part of the Regional Technical Commission on Swine Health, currently chaired by Mexico, with Belize as its secretariat. El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic are also part of it. This commission is unified in its prevention and action plans against CSF.

 

Guatemala's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food also works to ensure the production of healthy and safe food, as stated in its strategic objective number five of the plan "A new crop for Guatemalan agriculture."

 

- National Hog Farmer