April 14, 2023

Dominican Republic adjusts ASF surveillance strategy

The Dominican Republic has shifted the focus of its African swine fever (ASF) surveillance strategy to one of disease management and control rather than quick eradication.

"The Dominican Republic producers and their government are still working out their strategies of how to handle ASF," said Dr. Paul Sundberg, executive director of the Swine Health Information Center. "The USDA offered everything they could do to help, including a new diagnostic lab in the Dominican Republic so the samples and the testing can be done right there on the island and not have to be shipped to Plum Island for confirmation. …that's a big step with helping to support their programme."

"But, right now it's between the producers on the island in the Dominican Republic as well as the government to develop their own strategy of how they want to handle this virus," Dr. Sundberg added.

- Swineweb