For the first time in 37 years, African Swine Fever has been confirmed in Haiti. As part of its October enewsletter, the Swine Health Information Center has updated the African Swine Fever situation in the Caribbean and efforts by USDA to help contain the infection.
SHIC Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg says both the Dominican Republic and Haiti have asked for help in surveillance and USDA has been testing samples sent to its Foreign Animal Disease lab on Plumb Island.
Clip-Dr. Paul Sundberg-Swine Health Information Center:
The Dominican Republic is in the process of responding to ASF in their country. They have asked USDA for that surveillance help. USDA has currently set up, with the Dominican Republic in partnership with the DR, a laboratory in the DR for quick diagnostics of African Swine Fever and that's a big step to help their response efforts within the country.