The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has conducted a mock African Swine Fever exercise aimed at strengthening the capacity of staff at the Veterinary and Livestock Services Division.
Chief Veterinary Officer within the Veterinary and Livestock Services Division, Dr. Sharmine Melville-Edwin said the exercise provided the team with hands-on training in the proper procedures and methodologies for sample collection, in case of a disease outbreak.
“The simulation exercise was designed to help the team understand the proper procedure and the proper methodology involved in sample collection,” she said. “In 2021, after many decades, the Americas experienced its first outbreak of African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic. The region has been on high alert since then for the possibility of the spread of the disease into neighbouring countries. We have been taking proactive measures even within CARICOM to mitigate the spread and to prepare ourselves in the event that the disease were to reach our shores.”
Coordinator of the African Swine Surveillance and Response Project Dr. Auria King Cenac, underscored the importance of reinforcing the critical steps to be taken in the event of an outbreak.
“This project is also going to have some pilot studies to allow us to do some form of testing on each island in the region and Saint Lucia will have its testing exercise in May. As a result, we decided to have a pre-simulation exercise to build the capacity of our senior officers in their response to an ASF outbreak. The offers were taught how to don and doff their personal protective equipment, take samples, and transport those samples to the lab for testing. It was a fruitful exercise. We were able to observe our strengths and note the areas that we need to work on. So we are hoping that in May, we will be even more prepared in the eventuality of an ASF outbreak or any other health-related emergency.”
Officials have assured the public that African swine fever is not a public health hazard and does not pose a risk to human health. However, the disease is highly contagious among swine populations and could have severe implications for the local pork industry. Farmers are urged to remain vigilant. If African Swine Fever symptoms are observed, farmers are to immediately contact the Veterinary and Livestock Services Division.
The Ministry of Agriculture remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s nutrition and food security through continuous training and preventative measures.