Question | Speaker | Response |
Questions pertaining to ASF testing and vaccines | ||
Are antigen capture ELISA kits for ASF commercially
available and readily accessible? | Richard French | Yes, there are a number of products. Examples include: PenCheck LFS (www.penchecktest.com), Ingenasa
ELISA (ingenasa.eurofins-technologies.com), ID Screen ASF (id-vet.com), ASFV
Antigen Rapid Kit (ring bio.com). These are all referenced and evaluated in
the literature and there a number of others, either
ELISA or LFS tests. You have to be aware that the
sale or use in any country or territory is conditional on licensing or
registration of the products. |
What are the test(s) which
have been validated in Canada and the Americas? | Jaspinder | Pen side tests developed in
Canada/US are both antigen based (PCR) and antibody
(ELISA) based. |
What can we learn from the development of vaccine
for SARs COV 2 (COVID 19) and the trial from HIV? Is there a promising trial
at list after the adoption of technology from COVID 19 vaccine? | N.A. | Refer to Q&A from 21 June live
session |
Great to refer to biosecurity in
place in France. But what about the vaccine for ASF? | Didier | Work on the vaccine is carried out by laboratories. For
professionals in the French pig industry, their intervention is only possible
on the biosecurity aspect. They are waiting for a vaccine to have an
additional tool in case ASF enters French territory which has not been the
case until now. |
What is the status of vaccine development.
Are there prospects for the development of ASF vaccines as quickly as was
done for Covid-19? | Denis Kolbasov | No. The development of ASF vaccines as quickly as it was done for
COVID-19 is not feasible for several reasons: ·
SARS-CoV-2 virus is much smaller then ASFV
and requires only one already known protective antigen (Spike protein) for
vaccine development. ASFV has a much larger genome than coronaviruses, and
the identification of ASF antigens that induce a protective immune response
is still under investigation.
Notwithstanding, GARA partners are making progress with the
development of 1st generation modified live vaccine, some of which are
currently under investigation and development with commercial partners in
Europe and Asia. Timeframe for
regulatory approval of the first vaccine is still speculation at this time, but this is why GARA help our recent webinar
and is engaging with IABS and regulatory authorities to identify
international standards to ensure first-generation vaccines are pure, safe,
potent, and efficacious. ·
The record of the webinar available here https://crdfglobal.zoom.us/rec/play/_Z2V9E39cjUG4diuDRa4y3kqs8zwAw1j-kJrL6aYIzNw9n_QbVWQsZvFqcbM3jEIoAEaz3zXmgXDIDrz.lKipgbVBBmAr8LUq |
|
Implementation of PPP/ ASF control measures at the level of
production |
||
|
How can the prevention and control of ASF be
achieved in scavenging or extensive farming systems, and what are the areas
in which PPP may be applied in these systems? |
Antoine Lury |
Prevention and control can be achieved only through improved
biosecurity/biosafety practices and participation in effective surveillance
schemes, at all levels (from the farm to markets). To achieve that, many
preliminary challenges should be addressed, and actions should be adapted to
the great diversity of local contexts (see full PPT for more information on
those aspects). PPPs could be an opportunity to encourage and support this process,
depending on the situation in the target countries/areas (nature and
capacities of stakeholders, market structuration, etc.). Few examples: ·
Establishment of direct
contracting schemes between private intermediaries/buyers (e.g.
collectors/middle-men, commercial farmers, butchers, etc.) and smallholders
(or famers’ groups/cooperatives) willing to invest/apply proper biosecurity
schemes for their pigs => definition of technical specifications (in terms
of biosecurity/biosafety) adapted to local contexts/capacities, establishment
of fair contracting conditions, technical support, microcredit schemes and/or
provision of inputs (e.g. disinfection material, etc.) if necessary, creation
of local quality signs/labelling solutions (e.g. PGS), etc.; ·
Effective participation
of private operators in existing active/passive surveillance schemes (in
collaboration with local authorities and other local stakeholders, including
CAHWs and farmers), both in terms of data collection/notification and public
communication/awareness, ideally under a dedicated PPP framework with clear
and transparent objectives/tasks; ·
Development/provision
of biosafe services (in collaboration with and under the supervision of local
authorities) for the transport, storage and marketing of pigs, including
under local certification schemes; ·
Technical and/or
financial support to local authorities and local stakeholders (CAHWs,
farmers, cooperatives, etc.) in terms of restocking, contingency funds,
training funds (e.g. for CAHWs), etc., either on a
voluntary basis or under specific state taxes; Etc. The rationale behind being that collaboration is essential in the face
of such crisis: 1. no one is fully protected (since biosecurity is never a 100%
guarantee), and in the end everyone is impacted by market disruptions, price
instability and higher market competition. Inversely, cooperation could bring
new market opportunities and a better risk diversification, including in a
long-term perspective; 2. biosecurity can be effective only if applied in a holistic manner, e.g. if implemented at all levels of the value chain
(production, but also processing, transportation, marketing) and if combining
individual and collective actions (e.g. biosecurity measures at farm level
should be complemented by biosecurity measures at village/district levels and
proper active/passive surveillance systems); Intensive and extensive systems can coexist, and should better
cooperate if fair and transparent conditions are met; Promoting a notion of “collective responsibility” (in terms of
biosecurity and surveillance) should concern all local stakeholders,
including private businesses/operators |
|
How do you get to convince the small farmers to
comply with quarantine rules if there are no incentives guaranteed for their
pigs? Most small farmers farm with pigs as the only source of income, and
they mostly would not wait until authorities arrive on the farm to destroy
their pigs as this means loss of income to the farmer. In the last two years, we have witnessed a
devastating impact of ASF on the fragile eco system of pig farming in West
Africa, among the many subsistence pig farmers especially among rural women
who kept pig as an emergency savings (piggy bank) for their family to pay
school fees or for emergency health care but lost their pigs to ASF. The
government has shown lacklustre interest in pig farming (probably for
religious reasons), the national media coverage also did not reflect the full
destructive impact that ASF had on the rural communities in Nigeria. There is an urgent need to train and
educate thousands of farmers on how to prevent ASF in West Africa. What can be done in regions where the
disease is already endemic? And how
can NGO like Pristine partner with other international organisation to Stop
ASF in pig farming? (Question from Adetola) How can we change and influence the mindset of
smallholder farmers to apply ASF prevention and control measures, given that
pigs are an important source of their livelihoods
and they are unlikely to comply with measures that can adversely affect their
herds (e.g. depopulation)? |
Michel Dione |
Response from Keith Sumption:
@Adetola. The press can also help here - In East Africa there are inspiring
human stories of biosecurity initiaitives by
producers that make good press stories - if these are better known, it can
encourage. How to get these better known and publicized? For the question of involvement of
NGOs, refer to live session on 21 June. There should be compensation to
farmers after depopulation either from the government or through a private
sector linkage model. Other options would be to investigate “safe slaughter”
of sick pig for community consumption given that ASF is not a zoonotic
disease. |
|
What could be the best 3 control measures to prevent
or overcome ASF? Which is the best surveillance strategy in farms around an
outbreak area? |
Joris Coenen |
Prevention: surveillance and coordination. If ASF occurs in wild boar,
it is of paramount importance to find it at a very early stage. Not searching
might be 'more convenient' but the outbreak will only become more difficult
to overcome. Coordination: before and during an outbreak: many actor are involved. A crisis plan is a must, and during
the outbreak, good coordination is very important |
|
Questions related to biosecurity | ||
|
How can the risks of transmission of ASF from wild
boars to domestic pigs be managed? How can biosecurity be implemented in such
a scenario? |
Paco |
The EU strategic approach contains
quite good elements to build a proper management and essential biosecurity
elements https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2020-04/ad_control-measures_asf_wrk-doc-sante-2015-7113.pdf
More can be found in GF-TADS
Europe repository https://rr-europe.oie.int/en/projects/gf-tads-europe/standing-groups-of-experts-on-african-swine-fever-in-europe/depository-on-african-swine-fever/
And specially the Handbook EN_Manual_ASFinwildboar_2019_Web.pdf (oie.int) |
|
How do we succeed in engaging farm workers to apply
biosecurity for ASF? How about controlling movement of pigs and pork
products during festivities and social gatherings that result in a continuing
chain of spread of ASF? |
Michel Dione |
The first step is to increase
their knowledge (training) in biosecurity practices. The second step would be
to create incentive for adoption. A markets based
system approach to make their system efficient is promoted; if actors can
make good business, they will be more likely to invest in biosecurity. In one hand, the government should make efforts
to enforce movement control regulations; in another hand, movement control
again need to be incentivized. Once cannot stop farmers and traders operating
if they have no thing to replace the financial gap
they face during outbreak. There is a need for an operational model
market/private sector led that will self-regulate the system though
investment. |
|
Who manages, pays and
maintains the wash stations for pig transporters? Are the trucks a property
of the public or private sector? |
Didier |
The trucks are owned by the private sector. The washing
stations too. All the work on biosafety compliance is carried out by the
private sector |
|
How about compensation for farmers with poor
biosecurity that have to be closed down? Was there a
cost-sharing mechanism with the government? |
Martin Lemoine |
As noted in the presentation, the need for improvement to biosecurity
was identified very early on by New Hope and additional efforts and resources
were allocated by the company to educate its partner smallholder farmers for
mitigation strategies of ASF. This is why
New Hope embarked on the “pig flourishing” project at the height of the ASF
outbreak in 2019, where New Hope provided comprehensive supporting services
such as technology and financial services to small and medium-sized farmers
to help them continue pig breeding. This helped prevent New Hope’s sales from
decreasing sharply during the ASF outbreak, whilst also strengthening
resilience of the small farmers. The PR China government provided significant support to the pig
industry through the crisis, with about CNY 52.1 billion (USD 7.4 billion) of
subsidised loans allocated for pig farmers to help them cope with their
working capital needs. New Hope was provided with CNY 113.2 million (USD 17.5
million) in subsidies by the government, which helped New Hope cope and
support small holder farmers through initiatives like the “pig flourishing”
project. Outside of the PRC, other governments like the Philippine government
are also seeing how they can support pig farmers, with a 50-percent insurance
subsidy for commercial hog raisers currently under consideration. |
|
Was there any kind of funding for small producers or
Bacyards in order to
improve their bioscurity in the border with
Belgium? |
Didier |
There is no aid for small farms. Collective money
(public and private) was used for the construction of fences and the fight
against wild boars. It was not possible to finance the compliance of farms |
|
From experience, should funding be provided to small
producers/ backyard farmers to improve biosecurity (especially if adjacent to
outbreak areas)? |
Martin Lemoine Michel Dione |
As part of the ADB’s philosophy of investing to enable productions
systems of all sizes, we do take the perspective that smallholder farmers
should be provided with the necessary resources to provide them with the
resilience to prevent adverse losses. Being the backbone of the supply chain,
enabling these farmers to return to a sustainable and safe level of
production is also key to support a supply chain breakdown. For instance, companies like New Hope work with more than 1,900
farmers as part of a cooperative agreement - a number which has grown 54%
year on year in 2019. Any disruption to their production would inevitably
lead to a breakdown of their own business. As part of their efforts to
support farmers, New Hope provided technical support and training to help
farmers improve their resilience against ASF. Such production models prove that small and large producers can exist
side by side in efficient, profitable and bio-secure
production systems. Providing funding to small
producers/ backyard farmers to improve biosecurity may not be sustainable if
it is not link to a market-based value chain actor’s owned system. However if such funding is offered in the context of a
risk based approach to fight hotspots of ASF temporarily, that should be
fine. I would rather prefer that the public sector contributes in strengthening veterinary diagnostic and response
system, and enhance disease surveillance by procuring enough lab supply and
equipping regional labs. |
|
Question related to wildlife |
||
|
How to convince hunters to collaborate in the ASF
management? only possible by compensation provided by their help ? |
Didier |
We have had several negotiation
meetings. Very quickly we decided to collaborate and the professionals from
the pig sector agreed to co-finance actions against wild boars carried out by
hunters. The French State has also intervened on hunting rules through
regulatory texts. There was a strong collaboration with the desire to prevent
ASF from entering in the French territory. |
|
How can ASF in wild boars be identified
and controlled? |
Didier |
Yes it is very important to encourage hunters in the infected
areas because if you don't do anything the disease is growing rapidly |
|
How has the fence been built along Belgium border,
is it through PPP and contribution from the industry? |
Didier |
Funding for the fences came mainly from the French
public authorities. The professionals mainly contributed to finance the means
to control the population of wild boars in the white zones. |
|
Does Canada have a significant population of wild
boars? |
Tom Smylie |
There are pockets of wild pigs in certain
provinces. They tend to be more
prevalent in western Canada and rarer in Eastern Canada |
|
What are the ecological and biodiversity impacts
from the control of wild boar? |
Joris Coenen |
The disease killed 820 animals,
out of 2114 carcasses that were found dead. Another 3021 wild boar hunted, 13
positive cases. On the total population in the province and rest of the
country, these numbers are relative small. On the
other hand, not allowing forestry work and tourism for 2 years, had a
positive impact on wildlife in the area. |
|
Questions on role of governments |
||
|
This disease is having a devastating effect in West
Africa especially in the rural area, and as we have seen with COVID, for all
of us to be safe everyone need to be safe. How can
ASF impact be minimised in rural Africa
realising that some of the government are reluctant to develop their swine
industry? |
Michel Dione |
There is no choice than to work
with grass-roots stakeholders such as farmers. Interventions should be
community led. Communities should be empowered to understand the risk and
implications. They should be organized to access inputs and markets. It is
likely that if communities have financial power, they will invest in
biosecurity. |
|
The disease is
so dynamic that any change can happen and in any direction at any time. While
developed countries or régions are deploying great
effort to control or prevent the spreading of the disease, including
strengthening the private sector for effective public and private parnership, Africa region which the bedding of ASF, very
few efforts are done by the government and the private sector is generaly so weak that PPP appears to be compromised right
from the beginning. Thus do panelists suggest to buid up a strong private sector in the situation of subsahara African countries? What do pannelist
suggest to build up a strong private partnership for
succesful and effective PPP in the situation of subsahara African countries? |
Jaspinder Richard French |
Strengthening of PPP is very important. The National Government
has to understand that porc is a major protein
which is necessary to feed the world so it is a
question of food security also. It is not just the producers but every
citizen who need to understand this concept of food security. Once
understood, the governments can incentivize by bringing all partners together
to discuss and develop strategies. Mind you it takes time to get there. One
can also work with Intergovernmental organizations such as FAO and OIE to
create momentum in the region. For PPP in subsaharan Africa…. Look to all
stake holders. Vaccine producers, feed companies, etc. They all have
excellent resources and a common interest. Example, Boehringer has a
biosecurity tool ASF COMBAT. Often these companies have free resources and
vast technical support. With regard to NGOs and
other partners in funding. Look at the value chain - the ecosystem and impact
on all sectors, right doewn to the family. |
|
Questions related to trade |
|
|
|
How does CFIA
plan to get the recognition of the compartments for your commercial partners ? |
Tom Smylie |
We will have to
approach our trading partners and negotiate their recognition. This will likely require the sharing of
documentation as well as in country audits before trading partners will be
confident in the controls in place provide an acceptable level of risk
against the introduction of ASF into those compartments. |
|
How does CFIA
plan to get the recognition of the compartments for your commercial partners ? |
Tom Smylie |
We will have to
approach our trading partners and negotiate their recognition. This will likely require the sharing of
documentation as well as in country audits before trading partners will be
confident in the controls in place provide an acceptable level of risk
against the introduction of ASF into those compartments. |
|
Involvement of stakeholders/
value-chain in PPP |
||
|
Early reporting
at the farm level is highly dependent on being able to find a clearinghouse
for payment of animals that will be slaughtered with the intention of
stifling risk. How can PPP help you find the resources to meet this need?
(Question from Ivan Espinosa) |
Jason Yan |
The agreement between government and
private firms about the disposal of ‘possibly infected animals’ is really a
key to successful control on farm level. The agreement about the
procedures to determine infected, contacted, and at-risk animals, to
standardize truck compartment and disinfection procedures should be reached
as quickly as possible, even before any positives are detected.
Centralized lab service and mortality handle facilities should be built in
advance and with enough capacity. Sharing information about policy changes
and new outbreaks is also critical when outbreaks have been reported. |
|
How to draft a
partnership contract for the fight against ASF, for example with hunters? |
|
Suggest to review pre-recorded session
presented by Torsten from CIC. |
|
PPP is vital in
tackling ASF, especially along the value chain. To realize this, educating
stakeholders along the value chain, and understanding each other's
perceptions is key. In your view, how can we best approach this? (question from Lennar Powell) |
Michel Dione |
Education should be embedded in the business model as an important
input to the system. The same way farmer access drugs, they should also
access training. All should work in a business model private sector led. |
|
In France, to put an end to small farms, has compensation been paid to
these farmers? |
Didier |
There was no
compensation for ending small farms. The French administration has issued
administrative formal notices (injunctions to close the farm if it does not
meet biosecurity standards). Public and collective money was used for
measures to combat wild boars (fences + hunts) |
|
How can we
cultivate PPP engagements in small holder pig production value chains to
achieve cooperation in ASF control? |
Michel Dione |
Michel: Smallholder pig keeping is a fragile system which rely on low
inputs and has low output. ASF control measures including biosecurity
requires investment which cost do not much the return farmers obtain from
their investment. Limited uptake of the best-bets is mainly due to financial
resource constraints of farmers to invest in it. Such constraints are further
exacerbated by market inefficiencies in the value chain that limit farmers
access to benefits from technology adoption, thereby disincentivizing uptake.
Input and output market inefficiencies such as limited access to input
markets that guarantee affordable veterinary services for pig farmers as well
as unreliable access to profitable pork/pig markets, are documented in most
of our study reports in Uganda. Given this situation, sustaining investment
in ASF control remain a challenge. To get value chain engaged in a PPP model
to control ASF, such engagement should be
private sector led. For example, in the greater Masaka region
(Uganda), for instance, the local government has been actively engaged in the
promotion of pig production. Masaka municipality
has offered land to the pig cooperative union for the construction of a
centralized pig abattoir to improve meat quality and set up a disease
surveillance system for ASF and other pig diseases, while ensuring proper
management of waste. The partially completed abattoir is under use and it has
been identified as an income generating stream for the district, under the
management of the pig farmers association. https://livelihoods-gender.ilri.org/2018/03/08/new-abattoir-to-improve-access-to-safe-and-affordable-pork-in-uganda/ Sustainability of PPP is heavily dependent on private sector
leadership owing to the direct benefits attributed to being part of an PPP. |
|
How have
private ESG or agro funding bodies like ETFs
contributed to food resilience against ASF? Are there other examples from the
industry? |
Martin Lemoine |
The main form
of private investment to mitigate ASF typically comes from corporates seeking
to safeguard their supply chain and business or from governments protecting
the industry from a development and food security standpoint. From a private
sector perspective some examples of these companies include New Hope and
Riverstone Farms. To date, we
have not come across any particular funds in the
private financial markets that seek in particular to contribute to the fight
against ASF. This is mainly due to the ownerships structure of Protein
businesses in Asia which tend to be privately owned, with only a smaller
number of groups being listed on public exchanges in the
region. However, there are funds that focus on improving the resilience
of the food system, which would likely allocate capital to such opportunities
if they were available and an example ETF would
include: · The
Rize Sustainable Future of Food UCITS ETF (FOOD)
that invest into companies that are innovating across the food value chain to
build a more sustainable and equitable food system. In terms of
Private Equity Funds one fund in particular to note
which has been investing in sustainable PR China protein supply chain
development wold be: · Proterra
Investment Partners have made a significant investment into modernising
the Pork supply chain with their investment into Riverstone Farms - 3
farms in Shandong Province in the PRC. With an experienced team
of Veterinarians from the United States teamed up with local Chinese
farmers, their production model has also proved to be resilient in the
ASF crisis and an innovative model for enhanced biosecurity and disease
mitigation strategies for smallholder and commercial groups to
follow. |
|
Implementation of PPP at the
regional/ international level |
||
|
What are the
main challenges that retard PPP - can they theoretically be classified or
categorised with the appropriate approaches for each class of challenges.? |
Isabelle Dieuzy-Labaye |
Lack of understanding,
respect and trust between both sectors is the main barrier and most PPP will
start with engaging dialogue with the other party through regular
interactions and opening discussions on needs, benefits, resources, etc. |
|
Are there any
differences between PPP and private sector engagement? |
Isabelle Dieuzy-Labaye |
Private sector engagement, as well as public sector engagement, is a
pre-requisite for PPP. Partnering has its challenges, so engagement and
motivation from both ends are indispensable to start, develop and sustain the
partnership towards impact. |
|
How can PPP
with the private sectors be initiated? How can private sectors be
incentivized to fully participate and invest in PPP arrangements? |
Mario Eduardo Peña González Guillaume
Roué |
For initiating a PPP with
the private sector it is necessary that the public
sector involves the private sector since the beginning of the project, in
order for the private sector to feel that they are part of the project and
understand that the solution of the problem is also their responsibility. For this kind of approach it is necessary that the public sector
understands that the participation of the private sector is not for
questioning their work and that it is important to have a different point of
view about how to approach the risk. Likewise, it is important that the
private sector participates in the construction of the strategy that
addresses the problem and perhaps give them the responsibility of
implementing some of solutions, such as an awareness program. This allows them to
understand the importance of each sanitary measure that will be applied and
the consequences of not complying with it. Only when the private
sector feels that they are part of the solution and their technical opinions
will be taken into account, will they support the
funding and the necessary activities. There are three main lessons that can be applied in other regions.
First it is important that the veterinary services feels that the private
sector only has the aim to co work with them and
don’t make a judgement of their work. Second it is necessary that the
veterinary services understand the importance of make external audits to all
the activities of inspection and surveillance in airports, harbors and border
post. And finally it is necessary that the private
sector helps in the funding of the actions for inspections, surveillance,
awareness program and in the event of an outbreak, all the control and
eradication. PPPs are needed at various
levels. From the private sector perspective, very often we are organized in
national or regional inter-professional associations. These are in turn
connected to international associations, like the International Meat
Secretariat, the International Dairy Federation, the International Poultry
Council, International Egg Commission, International Feed Industry
Federation, Health for Animals, etc. Cooperation between public
and private sectors is essential -the private sector will always be willing
to participate if they are part of an efficient and transparent decision making process. The OIE, with its extensive
global network is well placed to reach many potential partners in the private
sector. The OIE is therefore the central hub for PPPs. |
|
ASF prevention
and control programme is challenging as it is important TADS, especially
spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild due to porous borders and also through pork products; Is there any avenues
through OIE or FAO where countries can share real time information and
strengthen cross border activities?? |
Gregorio |
Sharing quality information on epidemiological relevant ASF event is
critical for disease control purposes. The 182 OIE Members have the
obligation to regularly report to OIE the occurrence of any ASF event. The
notification could be done in the form of Immediate Notification, within 24
hours of the incursion of the disease or a significant change in the
epidemiology of the disease or every 6 moths is the
disease is consider endemic in the country. For
further information please visit the OIE-WAHIS site https://wahis.oie.int/.
Both FAO and OIE produce regular report that describe the ASF situation
around the world. In addition, FAO and the OIE under the GF-TADS have
set the ASF Standing Group of experts (SGE) in
Europe, Asia and Americas precisely to enhance the coordination at regional
level and share relevant epidemiological information and best disease control
practices. We invite you to visit the ASF dedicated site in the GF-TADS for
further information: http://www.gf-tads.org/asf/asf/en/
You will find a direct link to the different SGE. Strengthen cross border
activities is a core activity of the SGE. |
|
Could you briefly describe the ASF public and private sector awareness
programme in Canada? |
Tom Smylie |
CFIA has published material on their website urging producers to take
precautions, how to recognize signs and elevating their biosecurity. https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/african-swine-fever/eng/1306983245302/1306983373952
CFIA has also delivered a virtual seminar to veterinarians and
producers on the economic impact of the disease, how to keep the disease out,
recognizing clinical signs and some of the control measures. We will
also be delivering a course this fall which has been adapted from the EUFMD
ASF course to well over 200 veterinarian both
government and private. The Canadian Pork Council has been very active in providing
information to their members as well as providing posters and material at
feed suppliers across Canada to try and reach backyard farms. https://www.cpc-ccp.com/default
|
|
Question related to safety of pork meat and
products |
||
|
Is there any technology
to inactivate ASFV in pork export consignments and render them safe?
|
Gregorio Torres & Denis Kolbasov |
The OIE
Terrestrial Code Chapter 15.1 provides science-based
international standards to safe trade with pork even from infected countries.
In particular, Article 15.1.5 provides
recommendations for the importation of fresh meat of domestic and captive
wild pigs from infected countries and Article 15.16 describes the risk
mitigation measures for the importation of fresh meat of wild and feral pigs.
Article 15.1.23 describes two internationally agreed procedures for the
inactivation of ASFV in meat: heat treatment and dry cured pig meat. I invite
you to read the chapter and in particular the article dedicated to meat and
meat products. By implementing the international standards
the safe trade with live animals and their products is feasible even if ASF
is present in the country or zone. |
|
I guess the
importation of ASF infected pork will be the most probable cause of
introduction of ASF in Canada ? Do you implemented
additional measures at import ? |
Tom Smylie |
We have found that the detector dogs have
been the most effective method of detecting smuggled products. Most of the products smuggled are for
personal use and people unaware they are not allowed to bring them in. The Canadian Border Service uses computer
models to target specific flights and passengers. |
|
Was it necessary
to pass any national regulations to authorize the registration of personal
luggage at airports to detect possible illegal entries of meat products? |
Tom Smylie |
Canada does not allow the entry of pork products
from ASF affected countries unless specific mitigation measures have been put
in place. for example, canned pork or
recognized free zones. No. The
Canadian Border Service already has full authority to examine any luggage as
well as refusal of entry into Canada. |
|
Question related to simulation exercises |
||
|
Is a great message to
involve the private sector in the simulation exercises, taking
into account that this opportunity allows the producers to have a
better understanding of the sanitary measures, including the stamping out. |
|
Indeed, it would be
beneficial to include key stakeholder groups depending on the nature of the
exercises. The OIE Guidelines for Simulation Exercises may be found here: https://www.oie.int/app/uploads/2021/03/dd-oie-guidelines-for-simulation-exercises.pdf
|
|
China and Asia, in general,
conduct extensive research and studies on ASF in governments agencies and in
private sector, I do not see any formal engagements in the GARA. Did I miss
something? |
|
Response from Dr Kolbasov:
At this moment, two GARA Partners that have signed the GARA MOU represent the
People's Republic of China: China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center
(CAHEC) and Harbin
Veterinary Research Institute. The Vice-president of GARA Executive Committee
is Prof Zhiliang Wang – Deputy director of CAHEC.
GARA Partners also has ongoing research collaborations with ASF scientists in
China and Southeast Asia. Our biennial
scientific meeting in China was postponed due to COVID but is being planned
for 2023. CAHEC, as a GARA member and an OIE reference lab for ASF, also
provided the plan for surveillance and the protocols for detection of ASFV
variants to the OIE ASF reference laboratory network. |
|
Other questions on epidemiology and control (unrelated to PPP) |
||
|
Can an animal
can still excrete ASF virus, if the animal survived the
attack of ASF, and if yes for how long (question from Amitav Chakravarty) |
Dirk Richard
French |
Mortality
is usually 100% but a small number of pigs may survive. These animals are not
considered to play an important role in the spread of ASF. More information
is available in Ståhl
et al - Lack of evidence for long term carriers of African swine fever virus
- a systematic review, Virus Research 272, 2019,197725. But we
need to still be careful, particularly if use of illegal vaccines based on
live attenuated ASFV is not stopped, because it may lead to spread of that
attenuated ASFV while causing chronic disease
in pigs. There is no
evidence of a long term carrier state. That is,
healthy recovered animals that can transmit disease. There are chronically
sick animals that can intermittently transmit (Virus Res .
2019 Oct 15;272:197725. doi:
10.1016/j.virusres.2019.197725. Epub 2019 Aug 17.).
Note: infected ticks in the environment can remain infected through
generations of ticks for well over a year in the absence of pigs and pose a
threat for re-emergence of disease after depopulation. |
|
Could you
briefly explain the surveillance program for ASF for early detection? |
Dirk Richard French
|
The
components to be included in an ASFV early detection surveillance system
depend on the local situation. I therefore cannot tell you what it should be
in your particular situation. We recommend that to
always first conduct a risk assessment to map out the risk pathways for
introduction and spread within your area. This should allow you to prioritise surveillance activities. But the early
detection surveillance system component called ‘farmer reporting’ of
mortality by farmers will always be key, i.e. they
need to know what to look for, how to report and whether and when they will
receive compensation in case of implementation of control measures such as
culling. Active vs passive surveillance
is best. Target animals at processing facilities, and all animals with any
clinical disease. All morbidities and mortalities on farms should be tested
regardless of perceived cause. |
|
In an enzootic
situation where ASF has existed for a very long time, what are the
appropriate control measures to put in place? (Question from Laura Egbe Besong) |
Michel
Dione |
Push the
vaccine development agenda; put biosecurity as law; enforce disease
surveillance; rapid diagnostic testing; |
|
For Paco: if
you could please give the name of the example you give about Spain PPP for
classical swine fever ? I would like to read more
about this. grazie mille ! (from Myriam lOGEOT) |
Paco |
Agrupacion de
Defensa Sanitaria (in ES) [Junta
de Andalucía - Agrupaciones de Defensa Sanitaria Ganadera (ADSG)
(juntadeandalucia.es)] ;
and Groupement du defense sanitaire
du betail (in FR)
[https://fichiers-publics.agriculture.gouv.fr/dgal/ListesOfficielles/LISTE_GROUPEMENT_5143.pdf] |