August 2, 2021

 

Mexico and Colombia act to prevent ASF following confirmed case in Dominican Republic

 

 

Mexico and Colombia have taken strong sanitary measures to prevent the entry of African swine fever after the diseases was confirmed in pigs in the Dominican Republic.

 

The Colombian Agricultural Institute has defined the following actions at ports, airports, and border crossings, as applicable:

 

- Inspection of all baggage from commercial flights from the Dominican Republic and connecting countries by means of scanners and, when necessary, physical inspection of baggage;

 

- Validation of cargo flights from the Dominican Republic and Haiti, in order to intensify the inspection of risk products in the cargo;

 

- For the international courier service, the number of products to be physically inspected will be increased by type of risk;

 

- All cargo and passenger vessels from the Dominican Republic and Haiti will be inspected to ensure that no pork products are introduced.

 

Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ordered the reinforcement of its primary sanitary defense barrier, which involves animal health inspections at all ports, airports and borders.

 

While pork products and by-products from the Dominican Republic are not allowed to enter Mexico, inspections of travelers coming from the country are being intensified.

 

Additionally, the inspection of orders, kitchens and waste from commercial ships, cruise ships and airplanes was increased.

 

Senasica is strengthening the work of the Center for Health Emergency Operations (COES), which searches and compiles health information reported worldwide on ASF and other animal diseases not present in Mexico.

 

Mexico's General Directorate of Health is intensifying epidemiological surveillance work carried out in the field by technicians from the United States-Mexico Commission for the Prevention of Foot and Mouth Disease and other Exotic Animal Diseases (CPA).

 

- Pig333 / ICA / SADER