The threat of African Swine Fever (ASF): Improving the preparedness and response of the Caribbean region

27 April 2023, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - The FAO Emergency Management Centre (EMC), the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC), and the Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLC), in collaboration with the Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVET), conducted a table-top simulation exercise for the Caribbean region to prevent and respond to the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the region, from 25 to 27 April in Trinidad and Tobago.

High-level authorities attended the meeting: the Chief Technical Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture Trinidad and Tobago, Representatives from USDA/APHIS, USAIDBHA, French Development Agency, CAHFSA, CaribVET, and 19 countries, including Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

The objective of the exercise was to Bring countries and regional entities together to discuss a regional strategy and action plan to improve regional and national prevention, preparedness, and response to animal health emergencies.

With the introduction of African Swine Fever (ASF) in 2021 in the Caribbean region, and with the recent incursion of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in 18 different countries of the Americas, it is imperative that Caribbean countries and territories urgently implement and enhance cross-border monitoring, control, and surveillance activities for early detection of pathogens.

Building such capacity is necessary to prevent the introduction and spread of these diseases and improve preparedness.

The event provided countries, territories, and relevant organizations in the region with an opportunity to coordinate actions and plans, including guidance on finalizing and updating their national emergency and response plans and addressing the main challenges to the animal health sector.

The exercise was organized with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID BHA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-APHIS), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) through its CaribGREEN project.