No African Swine Fever here but Barbados on alert

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir and top veterinary officials have assured there are no cases of the African Swine Fever in Barbados but said authorities are taking no chances.

“Cabinet approved for us to put Barbados in a state of readiness in case African Swine Fever should reach Barbados. The entire region has been put on alert,” Weir said at a press conference this morning.

The most recent case of the virus that causes a hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in domestic pigs, was recently identified in the Dominican Republic.

Veterinary officer Dr Mark Trotman also addressed the media and said it is extremely important that Barbados prepares in case the virus does arrive on our shores, as it is a highly infectious, highly dangerous disease that has spread across the world over the past few years.

“Up until recently, the Americas was the only region that was spared its effects. It has wreaked havoc in many of the countries it has infected, not only in terms of the killing of the pigs but also the economic backlash . . .

“I want to make it clear that the disease does not exist in Barbados and we will do everything to keep it out.

“The other thing I want to make clear at the outset is that African Swine Fever affects pigs only, it does not affect any other species of animals, it does not affect people. So it poses no risk to public health, but it does pose a significant risk to the pork industry and to the economic health of the country,” Dr Trotman said.

Minister Weir also revealed that Cabinet had agreed that a standing committee be established to address matters as it related to laboratory equipment.

“So that we will have the equipment that we need in order to carry out the requisite tests that we may need to carry out. We are also increasing the human resources available to the veterinary services as well, to be able to assist us to carry out the field work that we need to do,” he said.

A public education programme has also started, Weir added.