On behalf of Daniel Beltran Alcrudo, Animal Health Officer (veterinary epidemiologist) - FAO, Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia
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Dear Colleagues,
Please find below the update on the main FAO initiatives/news related to ASF since the 23 June 2020 update (see all previous updates below, which are also available through the News section<https://www.ars.usda.gov/GARA/news.htm> of the Global African Swine Fever Research Alliance (GARA). Click on the hyperlinks for further information:
GLOBAL
* FAO and Mammalnet jointly launched an updated version of the wildlife-spotting (iMammalia) app to allow also the reporting of wild boar carcasses<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1304755/>, which is critical for the early detection and surveillance of ASF. The app has been translated to Serbian and Macedonian to aid vet services in the Balkans.
* The series of webinars to address the “ASF unprecedented global threat<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/FAO_ASF_call_for_action.html>: a challenge to food security, wildlife management and conservation” is scheduled on 26-30 October 2020.
EUROPE
* FAO organized the 2nd coordination meeting on ASF preparedness in the Balkans<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1310859/> on 1 October
* The series of webinars to address the “ASF unprecedented global threat<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/FAO_ASF_call_for_action.html>: a challenge to food security, wildlife management and conservation” is scheduled on 26-30 October 2020.
ASIA
* FAO and DGLAHS will organize an online capacity building course in Indonesia on ASF prevention & control for eight high risk provinces later this month. The course includes: biosecurity, biosafety, market / value chain management, etc. against ASF introduction.
AFRICA
* In Nigeria, training on biosecurity along the pig value chain in Nigeria will be provided through a recently approved project ‘Strengthening Global Coordination of Animal Health Emergencies of International Concern’ was approved.
* FAO project in Togo to "Support for the sustainable management of pig farms and control of ASF outbreaks" was approved, aiming at developing regulatory texts governing ASF control activities, carry out training and implementing urgent actions to revive the sector and secure the incomes of the stakeholders and communities dependent on the sector.
* In Côte d'Ivoire, under the project “Emergency assistance for the control of ASF in the TChologo and Poro regions”, a socio-economic study on the impact of ASF is being developed and the project closing workshop will be held from 6 to 8 October in Abidjan.
AMERICA
* The FAO manual for the detection and diagnosis of African swine fever is now available in Spanish<http://www.fao.org/3/i7228es/I7228ES.pdf>.
* The Manual on African Swine Fever in Wild Boar is now available in Spanish<http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca5987es>.
* The FAO practical considerations for Carcass management for small and medium scale livestock farms is now available in Spanish<http://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/CA2073ES>.
Please let us know if you would like to include any of your colleagues on the mailing list.
Best regards,
Daniel Beltran-Alcrudo, DVM, MPVM, MSc, PhD
Technical Advisor (Animal Health)
FAO, Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia
Kalman Imre utca 20, Budapest 1054, Hungary
Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Skype: daniel.beltran2
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15th update on African Swine Fever activities at FAO (23 June 2020)
GLOBAL
* From now on, these updates will be posted online in the news section of the Global ASF Research Alliance (GARA)<https://www.ars.usda.gov/GARA/news.htm> as they become available so that they become accessible to everyone, not just those in this distribution list.
* The GF-TADs global initiative to control ASF<http://www.fao.org/3/ca9164en/CA9164EN.pdf> has been published online. To mark the occasion, FAO and OIE have issued a joint press release<http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1298721/icode/> (in all six UN languages).
* The GARA 2020 Scientific Meeting in Kampala, Uganda has been postponed<https://web.cvent.com/event/b84468c1-8055-40db-b038-dada4893b5ae/summary> from August 25-27, 2020 to August 24-26th, 2021. The call for abstracts for will re-open on 15 January 2021. In the meantime, keynote speakers from the postponed 2020 meeting will give their addresses via Zoom on 24-25 August<https://web.cvent.com/event/b84468c1-8055-40db-b038-dada4893b5ae/summary> this year.
* The newly released FAO Food Chain Crisis Early Warning Bulletin No. 36<http://www.fao.org/3/cb0160en/CB0160EN.pdf> covers the threats expected to occur in the world in July-September 2020, including ASF.
EUROPE
* FAO is running a 4-week online course on ASF preparedness in Serbian in the Balkans<https://serbia.un.org/en/52134-fao-trains-online-350-field-veterinarians-balkans-african-swine-fever-preparedness>. The course started on 20 July with the participation of 350 veterinarians from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
* A Regional Meeting on ASF for the Balkans took place via Zoom on 30 June with the participation of neighbouring affected countries as well. It was an opportunity for countries to share the disease situation, for FAO to update on past and upcoming project activities, and for the EU to present on a new project on “Action on Animal Disease Eradication in the Western Balkans”. It is expected to be repeated it again after the Summer.
* The 15th meeting of the Standing Groups of Experts on ASF in Europe<https://rr-europe.oie.int/en/events/sge-asf15-15th-meeting-of-the-standing-groups-of-experts-on-african-swine-fever-in-europe/> took place with the participation of 31 countries of Europe on 6 May 2020 via zoom instead of face-to-face due to the COVID-19 situation.
* An update on the FAO activities on ASF in the Balkans<https://rr-europe.oie.int/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/5_sge_asf15_fao.pdf>, including past and upcoming assessment missions, simulation exercises, trainings and more.
ASIA
* Virtual regional Training of Trainers on ASF detection organized by FAO RAP by engaging animal health officials from Cambodia, Myanmar, Viet Nam and Regional FETPV (22 June – 2 July 2020).
* Online course on ASF preparedness for Asia was successfully finished with 490 participants from 27 countries in Asia and Pacific Region with a dozen tutors (May-June 2020).
* Online meeting with CVO Papua New Guinea, NAQIA, FAO HQs, FAO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (RAP) and FAO Papua New Guinea and Development Partners was held on 16 June to update on epidemiological situation and control measures, as well as to discuss support to ASF response.
AMERICAS
* On June 2020, FAO applied a diagnostic survey to compile background information about preparedness and risk management for ASF as part of the implementation of an emergency project on ASF preparedness in Latin America and the Caribbean. Meetings are being held individually with countries to identify gaps and organize future actions.
* FAO is preparing an online course on good practices for emergency management (GEMP) to be launched for the countries of Central America in September 2020.
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14th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (11 June 2020)
EUROPE
* FAO launched on 22 April a 4-week online course on ASF preparedness for Europe<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1272345/> with the participation of 500 veterinarians nominated by the vet services from 32 countries. The tutored course, which also includes webinars and an interactive discussion forum, is structured around seven training modules.
* The ASF Standing Group of Experts (SGE) held its 15th meeting on 6 May 2020 via Zoom due to travel restrictions. The next ASF SGE will take place in Hungary in November 2020, focusing on simulation exercises.
* Last December, veterinarians from the Balkans and Eastern Europe came together at a workshop on disease risk communication and outbreak management<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1271970/> focused on ASF and lumpy skin disease.
ASIA
* The 4-week online course on ASF preparedness developed for Europe will be adapted and launched for Asia in May-June 2020.
* Under the GF-TADs umbrella, OIE, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and FAO organized a video call focusing on ASF in March 2020.
* An alert message on the high risk for ASF emergence and spread to Pacific Islands was sent out on 16 March.
* The 4th SGE on ASF for Asia meeting on ‘Outbreak management’, originally planned on 31 March in the Republic of Korea, has been postponed due to COVID-19. Instead, an online meeting<https://rr-asia.oie.int/en/events/meeting-of-sge-on-asf-for-asia/> took place on 21 April 2020.
* The Manual on ASF in wild boar has been translated to Korean<http://www.fao.org/3/ca5987ko/ca5987ko.pdf> (in collaboration with the Korean National Institute).
* The GAP Analysis report produced by the Global ASF Research Alliance (GARA) has been translated into Chinese<https://www.ars.usda.gov/GARA/reports/GARA%20Gap%20Analysis%20Report%202018_CH.pdf>.
AFRICA
* FAO co-authored a scientific study on the Drivers, Risk Factors and Dynamics of African Swine Fever Outbreaks, Southern Highlands, Tanzania<https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/3/155/htm> through participatory epidemiology.
AMERICAS
* The 4-week online course on ASF preparedness developed for Europe will be adapted, translated and run for the Americas in August 2020.
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13th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (16 March 2020)
GLOBAL
* The joint FAO/IAEA division organized a 2-week training course on Detection of Multiple Pathogens for the Differential Diagnosis and Syndromic Surveillance of Transboundary Animal Diseases, 4-15 November 2019, with a full week dedicated to ASF. 26 participants from VETLAB partner laboratories in 23 African and Asian countries attended this training.
* The Global ASF Research Alliance (GARA) Scientific Meeting<•%09https:/www.ars.usda.gov/GARA/events/Kampala_Uganda/GARA%202020%20-%20Call%20for%20Abstracts.pdf> in Kampala, Uganda, initially planned on 14-16 April 2020, has been postponed to 25-27 August 2020 due to the coronavirus situation.
* The Global Meeting<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/FAO_ASF_call_for_action.html> to address the “ASF unprecedented global threat: a challenge to food security, wildlife management and conservation” in Rome, Italy, initially planned on 28-29 April 2020, has been postponed to 21-22 September 2020 due to the coronavirus situation.
EUROPE
* FAO coordinated last November the organization of a training for ASF laboratory diagnosis for Kosovo<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1262741/>* at FAO (and EU) Reference Laboratory (INIA-CISA) in Madrid, Spain.
* The manual on ASF in wild boar ecology and biosecurity is now available in Bulgarian<https://www.mzh.government.bg/media/filer_public/2020/02/18/gf-tads_handbook_asf_wildboar_version_2018-12-19_bg.pdf> thanks to the Bulgarian veterinary services.
* FAO implemented a simulation exercise for ASF preparedness in Kosovo<http://unkt.org/2020/02/28/kosovo-implements-african-swine-fever-simulation-exercise/>* on 26-27 February, covering a disease suspicion visit and the subsequent culling, disposal, and cleaning of the infected farm.
* As per United Nations Security Council resolution 1244
AFRICA
* In November 2019, FAO ECTAD held a regional coordination meeting in Ghana<http://www.fao.org/ghana/news/detail-events/es/c/1252163/> for the improvement of ASF surveillance and control addressed to Chief Veterinary Officers and relevant pig sector actors from 12 countries in the African region.
* FAO conducted a study in Cameroon to understand the epidemiological and socio-economic factors of ASF<http://bit.ly/327qwNu> transmission and spread (in French).
* The joint FAO/IAEA division published two papers on the molecular characterization of ASFV in Namibia<https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13399> and Tanzania<https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13298>.
ASIA
* FAO conducted an ASF risk assessment mission in Samoa<http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/1262495/> on 17-20 February 2020.
* The joint FAO/IAEA division assisted to characterize the local ASFV isolates Indonesia, Lao PDR and Vietnam.
* The joint FAO/IAEA division implemented a field mission in Indonesia, to transfer laboratory techniques for the early and differential detection and the molecular characterization of ASFV.
* The 4th Standing Group of Experts (SGE) on ASF for Asia meeting to discuss ‘Outbreak management’ and originally planned on 31 March to 2 April 2020 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, has been postponed due to the coronavirus situation.
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12th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (12 February 2020)
GLOBAL
* FAO REU and EuFMD jointly organized a 4-week online course on ASF preparedness for veterinarians<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_091219.html> which gathered 240 participants from 55 countries and all continents.
* The Global ASF Research Alliance (GARA) will organize the GARA Scientific Meeting<•%09https:/www.ars.usda.gov/GARA/events/Kampala_Uganda/GARA%202020%20-%20Call%20for%20Abstracts.pdf> in Kampala, Uganda, on 14-16 April 2020. The deadline for abstract submission is 14 February
* FAO is organizing an International Conference<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/FAO_ASF_call_for_action.html> to address the “ASF unprecedented global threat: a challenge to food security, wildlife management and conservation” in Rome, Italy, on 28-29 April 2020.
* FAO published its EMPRES Information Sheet<http://www.fao.org/3/ca7594en/ca7594en.pdf> on “Biosecurity practices and border control to stop the spread of ASF”.
* FAO participated in the High-Level International Conference<https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/high-level-international-conference-2020-jan-17_en> - The future of global pork production under the threat of ASF, organized by the European Commission in Berlin on 17 January 2020.
* The 1st GF-TADS Standing Group of Experts on ASF for the Americas (SGE ASF1)<http://www.gf-tads.org/events/events-detail/en/c/1152287/> took place in Bogota, Colombia, on 3-4 December 2019.
EUROPE
* FAO and the Macedonian Food and Veterinary Agency organized a two-day simulation exercise on ASF <http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1253043/> in November 2019.
* FAO organized a Risk Communication and Outbreak Management Workshop<http://www.fao.org/europe/events/detail-events/en/c/1253900/> focusing on ASF and lumpy skin disease for vet services in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
* The 4-week online course on ASF preparedness for veterinarians<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_091219.html> will be run again in Serbian for the Balkans and in English for Europe, both in Spring 2020.
* A one-week training on laboratory diagnosis for Kosovo* technicians was organized at the FAO Reference Laboratory for ASF (CISA-INIA, Spain) in November 2019
* As per United Nations Security Council resolution 1244
ASIA
* The International symposium on<China%20highlights:%20http:/www.fao.org/3/ca7654en/ca7654en.pdf> “The role of veterinary epidemiology in the development of effective ASF control and prevention policies in support pork industry and regional animal health services” was organized in Qingdao, China, on 6-7 November 2019.
* FAO EMC-AH mission to Timor-Leste to assess ASF situation and response strategy (December 2019).
* The Annual Coordination meeting for the FAO-China South-South Cooperation project was held in Kunming City, China, including discussion on ‘ASF prevention and control’ (December 2019).
* The 3rd Meeting of the GF-TADs standing group of experts on ASF (SGE-ASF) for Asia and 4th regional workshop on swine disease control in Asia<https://rr-asia.oie.int/en/events/3rd-meeting-of-sge-on-afs-for-asia-4th-regional-ws-on-sd-in-asia/> took place in November 2019.
* FAO mission to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to provide laboratory equipment, reagents and training on ASF diagnostic methodologies (4-8 November 2019).
* FAO Weekly Update on the ASF situation in Asia<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html> covers the epidemiological situation and main actions taken by affected countries, and by FAO.
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11th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (1 November 2019)
GLOBAL
* The Quarterly Early Warning Bulletin for October 2019 - December 2019<http://www.fao.org/3/ca6744en/ca6744en.pdf>, which integrates information on threats to the food chain and food security for the three months ahead, including ASF, has just been published.
* The VACDIVA<https://www.animalshealth.es/porcino/europa-quiere-mas-inversion-para-el-desarrollo-de-la-vacuna-contra-la-ppa> consortium, a 10-million EUR project has been funded by the European Commission under the H2020 program for the development of a safe DIVA vaccine against ASF. FAO is part of the advisory committee.
* At the 10 GF TADs Regional Steering Committee organized in Panama on 17 of September 2019, the highlight was the decision to create a Standing Group of Experts on ASF for the Americas<http://www.rr-americas.oie.int/en/regional-activities/gf-tads/meetings/> (similar to those already established in Europe and Asia). All materials (agenda, PPTs, press release and recommendations) are now available online.
* The II ASF Forum for the Americas, which was held on 22 – 23 October in Mexico. Dr Etienne Bonbon represented FAO.
* The ASF Webinar Series<https://events.streamgo.co.uk/merck-ASF-global-situation/register?redirect=/merck-ASF-global-situation>, organized by MSD, will hold its 4th round dedicated to How close how far we are from a vaccine, on 21 November.
* The Emergency Management Center for Animal Health (EMC-AH) activated a global Incident Command Group (ICG) in June 2019 to maintain situational awareness, share updates from multiple sources, and coordinate communication and emergency management activities.
EUROPE
* Assessment missions were carried out to assess the level of preparedness for ASF of the veterinary services in: Montenegro (10-11 September), Kosovo* (18 September), and North Macedonia (14-15 October).
* Biosecurity Workshops were organized for farmers and private veterinarians on prevention and risk factors for ASF: Montenegro (12 September), Kosovo* (19 September) and North Macedonia (15 October)
* Workshops on ASF in Wild boar and Hunting biosecurity were held to raise awareness and help with early detection and preparedness for ASF in wild boar in: Montenegro (19-20 September), Kosovo (26-27 September) and North Macedonia (17-18 October).
* A regional Training-of-trainer event was held for official veterinarians of Albania, Kosovo* and North Macedonia on ASF on 17 September, Pristina, Kosovo*
* The report of the last meeting of the SGE ASF in Europe (SGE ASF 14<https://web.oie.int/RR-Europe/eng/Regprog/en_GF_TADS%20-%20Standing%20Group%20ASF.htm#ASF14>, Sofia, Bulgaria) is now available online at, together with all the presentations and other documents pertaining to that meeting.
* The Manual on African Swine Fever in wild boar (ecology and biosecurity) is available in Serbian<http://www.vet.minpolj.gov.rs/legislativa/pravilnici/prirucnik%20biosigrunost.pdf>
* As per United Nations Security Council resolution 1244
ASIA
* The EMC-AH<http://www.fao.org/emergencies/how-we-work/prepare-and-respond/emc-ah/en/> led an ASF Alert mission to Papua New Guinea on 07 – 12 October 2019 to enhance the operational readiness and ability to rapidly detect and respond to ASF outbreaks.
* The Inception Workshop for the FAO Regional Technical Cooperation Programme on African Swine Fever Emergency Preparedness and Response in East and Southeast Asia<http://www.fao.org/3/ca6676en/ca6676en.pdf> took place in Bangkok, Thailand from 29 to 30 August 2019
* FAO is putting together for several months now a Weekly Update on the ASF situation in Asia<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>. You can access the latest, but also all previously archived updates with the epidemiological situation and main actions taken by affected countries, and by FAO.
* Two interviews with FAO officers on the ASF spread in Asia have been published in English (Juan Lubroth, Chief Veterinary Officer; Click here to download wav<https://soundcloud.com/unfao/tzh-50-african-swine-fever-spreads-to-the-philippines> or mp3<http://www.fao.org/news/audio-video/detail-audio/en/?uid=12561>) and French (Ludovic Plée, Animal Health Officer; Click here to download wav<https://soundcloud.com/unfao/la-peste-porcine-africaine> or mp3<http://www.fao.org/news/audio-video/detail-audio/fr/?uid=12562>)
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10th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (12 September 2019)
GLOBAL
* The Manual on African swine fever in wild boar (ecology and biosecurity)<http://www.fao.org/3/ca5987en/ca5987en.pdf> has just been published online. Produced under the GF-TADs umbrella, it is a technical, but practical compendium of information about hunting management, biosecurity and wild boar carcass disposal. It briefly describes range of practical management and biosecurity measures or interventions.
EUROPE
* The Focus on Carcass management (practical considerations)<http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/CA2073EN> has now been translated into French, Romanian, Russian, Serbian and Ukrainian
* The 14th Standing Group of Experts on (SGE ASF14<https://web.oie.int/RR-Europe/eng/Regprog/en_GF_TADS%20-%20Standing%20Group%20ASF.htm#ASF14>) took place in Sofia, Bulgaria on 10-11 September 2019. The meeting was dedicated to ‘Outbreak investigation and relevant data collection’. Agenda and presentations are already available online.
* Update on FAO activities on ASF in the Balkan region<https://web.oie.int/RR-Europe/eng/Regprog/docs/docs/SGE%20ASF14/D2_2_FAO_ASF_activities.pdf>.
ASIA
* Inception Workshop for the Regional Technical Cooperation Programme on ASF Emergency Preparedness and Response in East and Southeast Asia (TCP/RAS/3704) was held in Bangkok on 29-30 August 2019.
* The 2nd standing group of experts on African swine fever (SGE-ASF) meeting for Asia<https://rr-asia.oie.int/activities/regional-activities/gf-tads-framework/standing-group-of-experts-on-asf/201907-2nd-sge-mtg/> was held in Tokyo, Japan on 30-31 July 2019.
* FAO deployed an EMC-AH mission to Lao PDR to assess the ASF situation and preparedness and response strategy (June 2019).
* The 7th Veterinary Epidemiology for Executives (FETPV-E) workshop<http://www.fao.org/3/ca5868en/ca5868en.pdf> successfully held in Chengdu, China from 17 July to 19 July 2019. With theme of “Using Veterinary Epidemiology for Successful Animal Disease Zoning/Compartmentalization Implementation”, it covered how such strategy could be applied for ASF.
* FAO is putting together for several months now a Weekly Update on the ASF situation in Asia<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>. You can access the latest, but also all previously archived updates with the epidemiological situation and main actions in China, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Viet Nam, DPRK, Cambodia.
* Livelihoods of millions in East and Southeast Asia at risk from Swine Fever epidemic<https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1041722> | UN News
* One year on, close to 5 million pigs lost to Asia’s swine fever outbreak <http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1204563/icode/>
* Boosting biosecurity and border measures to control African swine fever in Asia<http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/1203571/>
* FAO Viet Nam uploaded a video clip to YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS6FK5-0d1Y> on technical advice
* IAEA Contributions on ASF in Cambodia, Thailand, Mongolia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam
* A set of emergency kits for detection and differentiation of ASF were designed and ordered for each affected country, including cELISA, PCR and consumables for sequencing ASF genome.
* Between 1 July and the end of August 2019, 5 field missions were implemented by IAEA to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Thailand and Vietnam to review existing capacities at national labs and disseminate SOPs the diagnostic techniques mentioned above. Additionally, they familiarized them with the existing support platforms developed by IAEA, such as the iVetNet – an information platform (rapid exchange of validated diagnostic procedures and support in the implementation and maintenance of ISO 17025 standard) and the sequencing services which enables counterparts access to genetic sequencing services with no charge, and a possibility to perform complex phylogenetic analyses of the detected viral genomes.
* IAEA organized 3 group fellowships trainings (on dissemination of techniques for early detection of priority animal and zoonotic diseases) of 4 scientists each, for the affected countries. One of these fellowship trainings in China is focused on ASF detection.
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9th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (14 June 2019)
GLOBAL
* African swine fever is already affecting the global food markets. According to FAO's 2019 Food Outlook Biannual Report on Global Food Market<http://www.fao.org/3/CA4526EN/CA4526EN.pdf>, one of the highlights is that "the world meat output is forecast to decline due to a fall in pig meat output, primarily in China...". Also "soybean output is forecast to come to a halt in 2018/19 – largely due to a decline in China’s soymeal uptake". And "Feed use of maize in China has slowed considerably". However, as stated in page 65 “Challenges for some, opportunities for others?”.
* FAO has produced a number of animations on the spread of ASF over time:
* All ASF outbreaks (since 2007) by species (wild boar vs. domestic pig)<https://claudiapittiglio.carto.com/builder/4dede7bb-651a-4c29-a287-d17f4b8c5dcf/embed>
* All ASF outbreaks (since 2007) in wild boars and domestic pigs in a cumulative way<https://claudiapittiglio.carto.com/builder/59eb642c-195c-46ae-aa05-a27a4f459683/embed>
* ASF outbreaks since 2014 by species (wild boar vs. domestic pig)<https://claudiapittiglio.carto.com/builder/fe2f89f9-ece2-4deb-ba83-66e2a599f16c/embed>
* ASF outbreaks in wild boars and domestic pigs since 2014 in a cumulative way<https://claudiapittiglio.carto.com/builder/834adbc1-99aa-4de7-8eec-d57ad0d37999/embed>
EUROPE
* FAO organized a Regional Workshop on African Swine Fever (ASF) Management in Wild Boar<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1195041/> in Belgrade, Serbia, on 21-23 May. The workshop, funded by the Czech Republic, brought together experts from affected countries along with country experts (vet agencies, forestry services, hunting associations and wild boar specialist) from the Balkans to discuss and share practical knowledge about how to apply surveillance, prevention and control measures in wild boar populations in the Balkans. Presentations and agenda can be downloaded from here<http://www.fao.org/europe/events/detail-events/en/c/1194316/>.
* FAO organized a National African Swine Fever (ASF) workshop on wild boar and hunting biosecurity<http://www.fao.org/europe/events/detail-events/en/c/1194333/>. The primary objective of the workshop was to understand and give recommendations to Serbia on their national control strategy to prevent, early detect, conduct surveillance and, if cases are found, how to control ASF in wild boar. A practical day in a hunting ground was organized to demonstrate hunting biosecurity and ASF-related procedures.
* The Regional Symposium of the Veterinary Diagnostics Directorate of Hungary<https://portal.nebih.gov.hu/-/adi-90-jubileumi-konferencia> (for the 90th anniversary of the institution) had the first day dedicated to African swine fever. FAO had the chance to present on activities we have conducted in the region, and countries in the region (both affected and at-risk) presented their experiences with the disease. Presentations can be downloaded from the link above.
* A Technical Cooperation Project facility (TCPf) has just been approved for ASF preparedness in Kosovo
ASIA
* The International Symposium on Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever<http://www.fao.org/3/ca4774en/ca4774en.pdf> was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China, FAO and OIE on 9 April in Beijing, China. The meeting was organized in four main sessions: 1) Global Strategies and Biosecurity for the Prevention and Control of ASF; 2) Eradication and Zoning Measures of ASF; 3) Status and Measures of ASF Prevention and Control; 4) R&D and Progress of Diagnostic Technologies and Vaccines for ASF.
* A FAO Technical Cooperation Programme project “African Swine Fever Emergency Preparedness and Response in East and Southeast Asia” (TCP/RAS/3704) started on 23 April 2019.
* A FAO EMC Response Mission took place in Cambodia between 27 and 31 May 2019.
* A FAO EMC Alert Mission is planned in Lao PDR between 2 and 7 June 2019.
* Additional information on the First Meeting of the Standing Group of Experts on African Swine Fever (SGE-ASF)<http://www.fao.org/3/ca4774en/ca4774en.pdf> in Beijing.
* FAO is putting together for several months now a Weekly Update on the ASF situation in Asia<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>. You can access the latest, but also all previously archived updates with the epidemiological situation and main actions in China, Mongolia, Viet Nam, DPRK and Cambodia.
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8th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (7 May 2019)
GLOBAL
* FAO Food Chain Crisis Early Warning Bulletin, no. 31, April-June 2019<http://www.fao.org/3/ca4251en/CA4251EN.pdf> was recently published. Thirty-two plant and forest pests and diseases, locusts and animal and aquatic diseases (ASF among them) were monitored and forecasted by FAO experts for the period April to June 2019, including in Asia and Europe
EUROPE
* The 12th Standing Group of Experts for ASF<https://web.oie.int/RR-Europe/eng/Regprog/en_GF_TADS%20-%20Standing%20Group%20ASF.htm#ASF12> (SGE ASF12) took place on 11-12 March in Prague, Czech Republic. The meeting was organized under GF-TADs Europe, which is a joint initiative of FAO, EC and OIE. All materials (agenda, presentations, report and recommendations) of the meeting are available online. A combined GF-TADs / BTSF (Better Training for Safer Food) event was organised back-to-back on 13 March 2019: “Technical training on eradicating ASF: focus on the Czech Republic experience”.
* As part of the Emergency Regional Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) for ASF preparedness in the Balkans, FAO will be conducting assessment missions to all Balkan countries over the coming months.
ASIA
* A Standing Group of Experts on African Swine Fever (SGE-ASF) for Asia<http://www.rr-asia.oie.int/disease-info/african-swine-fever/updates-resources/standing-group-of-experts/> has been established, similar to the approach taken in Europe, under GF-TADs, which is a joint initiative of FAO and OIE. The 1st SGE-ASF for Asia Workshop<http://www.rr-asia.oie.int/disease-info/african-swine-fever/african-swine-fever-in-asia/standing-group-of-experts/201904-launch-mtg/> took place in Beijing, China on 10 April 2019. The day before, the International Symposium on Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever was held in Beijing, China.
* FAO, in collaboration with OIE conducted an emergency response mission in Viet Nam<http://www.fao.org/vietnam/news/detail-events/en/c/1185872/> on 11-15 March 2019 to enhance the country’s ability to respond to and prevent further spread of ASF.
* Inception Meeting of the FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Project on Transboundary Animal Disease Control in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS)<http://www.fao.org/3/ca3996en/ca3996en.pdf> held in Bangkok, Thailand from 30 January 2019 to 1 February 2019. At the meeting, activities to be implemented for ASF under SSC project in 2019 were proposed.
* Following the first ASF outbreak was in Cambodia, FAO and Cambodia met on 8-9 April 2019 for the first national consultative workshop to develop a preparedness and response plan for ASF<http://www.fao.org/cambodia/news/detail-events/en/c/1189699/>.
* Additional information on the ASF Preparedness Mission to Myanmar in Feb-March 2019<http://www.fao.org/3/ca4134en/ca4134en.pdf>, which was jointly conducted by FAO, OIE and Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD).
* Following the ASF outbreaks in Asia, the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in cooperation with FAO, provided a training course to veterinary diagnosticians from Southeast Asia<https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/vietnamese-authorities-control-spread-of-african-swine-fever-with-the-use-of-nuclear-derived-techniques>, including Viet Nam, on the diagnosis of ASF and other infectious diseases.
* FAO is putting together for several months now a Weekly Update on the ASF situation in Asia<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>. You can access the latest, but also all previously archived updates with the epidemiological situation in China, Mongolia, Viet Nam and Cambodia.
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7th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (8 March 2019)
GLOBAL
* FAO just published a scientific paper on the role of international trade and travel in the transboundary spread of pig diseases<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_080319.html>. The paper identifies the main spread pathways for risk assessment with abundant examples (Beltran-Alcrudo et al., 2019. BMC Veterinary Research 2019 15:64<https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-019-1800-5>).
* FAO sent an email to all CVOs to warn them of the increased risk of ASF spread due to the Chinese New Year.
* Forthcoming participation of FAO at International Symposium on ASF (Beijing, April 2019).
ASIA
* DPRK: Following the detection of ASF near the border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in both domestic pigs and wild boar, FAO organized a mission to DPRK to provide advice and support on ASF preparedness<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_260219.html> in January 2019.
* Mongolia: Following the first ASF outbreaks in Mongolia<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>, FAO deployed an EMC-AH Emergency Response Mission to Mongolia to assess ASF situation in February 2019.
* Myanmar: FAO Emergency Management Centre for Animal Health (EMC-AH) deployed a mission to Myanmar on 25 February-2 March to provide assistance during its ASF<http://www.fao.org/myanmar/news/detail-events/en/c/1184512/> alert phase to prepare, prevent, detect and take early action. OIE partnered in the mission, which included training Myanmar field veterinarians.
* Viet Nam: In response to the first ASF outbreaks in Viet Nam<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>, there have been a number of initiatives. FAO Viet Nam supports Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to respond to Africa Swine Fever outbreaks<http://www.fao.org/vietnam/news/detail-events/en/c/1181501/>. FAO, partnering with OIE, will organize an Emergency Management Centre-Animal Health (EMC-AH) mission to Viet Nam to advise on ASF control strategy and practices from 10-16 March 2019. Also, FAO (and OIE) participated and provide technical inputs to the National Meeting on African Swine Fever Control and Prevention, chaired by Viet Nam Prime Minister, on 4 March 2019 in Hanoi.
* FAO is putting together for several months now a Weekly Update on the ASF situation in China<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>. You can access the latest, but also all previously archived updates.
EUROPE
* The FAO Manual on ASF Detection and Diagnosis is now available also in Albanian<http://www.fao.org/3/I7228SQ/i7228sq.pdf> and Macedonian<http://www.fao.org/3/i7228mk/i7228mk.pdf>. Copies will be printed and distributed to Albania, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia in the coming weeks.
* FAO launched on 18-21 February an Emergency Regional Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) for ASF preparedness in the Balkans<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1180579/>. The agenda and presentations can be downloaded here<http://www.fao.org/europe/events/detail-events/en/c/1180547/>. Assessment missions to the five recipient countries are expected to start in April.
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6th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (17 January 2019)
GLOBAL:
* Attached is the latest Newsletter of the Global ASF Research Alliance (GARA)
AFRICA:
* A paper co-authored by FAO was just published In TBED on the Epidemiology of African swine fever in Africa today: sylvatic cycle versus socio-economic imperatives<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330327886_Epidemiology_of_African_swine_fever_in_Africa_today_sylvatic_cycle_versus_socio-economic_imperatives> (Penrith, Bastos, Etter and Beltrán-Alcrudo, 2019)
ASIA:
* The latest FAO China ECTAD Highlights (Vol 118)<http://www.fao.org/3/CA3005EN/ca3005en.pdf> includes information on three recent efforts/events in China where ASF was discussed.
* Early Warning Early Action report on food security and agriculture for January-March 2019<http://www.fao.org/3/CA2892EN/ca2892en.pdf>. Page V presents an overview of the Animal Health Risks, which includes ASF in Asia. More details in pages 34 and 35
EUROPE:
* FAO 10-page practical considerations on carcass management for small- and medium-scale livestock farms<http://web.oie.int/rr-europe/eng/eng/Regprog/docs/docs/FAO%20Carcass%20Management%20Focus.pdf> are now also available in Romanian<http://www.fao.org/3/CA2073RO/ca2073ro.pdf>.
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5th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (4 December 2018)
GLOBAL:
* The Global African Swine Fever Research Alliance (GARA<https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/np103/SymposiumWorkshopsMeetings/GARA%20Gap%20Analysis%20Report%202018%2011-11-18.pdf>), of which FAO is a member, just published its Gap Analysis Report<https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/np103/SymposiumWorkshopsMeetings/GARA%20Gap%20Analysis%20Report%202018%2011-11-18.pdf>, which assesses the current scientific knowledge and gaps (Virology, Pathogenesis, Immunology, Vaccines, Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Surveillance, Feral Swine and wild Suidae, and Tick Vector), as well as available countermeasures to effectively control and mitigate ASF.
* FAO produced two sets of questionnaires addressing both farmer and butchers to assess low biosecurity pig settings<https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?type=supplementary&id=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0202800.s006> (in English and Georgian), covering socioeconomic, biosecurity, management and value chain aspects. Results of the pilot in Georgia were published here<https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0202800&type=printable>.
* FAO has published a 10-page practical considerations on carcass management for small- and medium-scale livestock farms<http://web.oie.int/rr-europe/eng/eng/Regprog/docs/docs/FAO%20Carcass%20Management%20Focus.pdf>.
* The 29th issue of the quarterly Food Chain Crisis Early Warning Bulletin<http://www.fao.org/3/ca2076en/CA2076EN.PDF> covering the period October-December 2018, which includes 34 plant/forest pests and animal and diseases, for a total of 281 forecasts in 116 countries. The ASF situation in Asia and Europe are included as two of the three major highlights in the bulletin.
EUROPE:
* The FAO Manual on ASF detection and diagnosis is now available in Lithuanian<http://www.fao.org/3/I7228lt/i7228lt.pdf>. The translation was done by the Lithuanian State Food and Veterinary Service. Other languages (English, Chinese, Russian and Serbian) can be accessed here.<http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/bd35c569-752e-4b57-892e-e3e2e0ee0c9c/>
ASIA:
* FAO is putting together and distributing a Weekly Update on the ASF situation in China<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>. You can access the latest, but also all previously archived updates.
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4th update on African swine fever activities at FAO (16 October 2018)
GLOBAL:
* FAO has started working on a repository of leaflets on transboundary animal diseases<http://www.fao.org/index.php?id=94206>, including ASF. The leaflets are fully editable and available in different languages to allow the quick implementation of awareness campaigns.
* FAO has established an ASF platform<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/index.html>, where to access and download different documents, manuals, news releases, and other important resources on ASF
* FAO and partners will coordinate a full-day special session on ASF at the 15th Veterinary Symposium of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE)<http://isvee.net/> in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 13 November 2018.
* On 3 October, FAO released the Early Warning Early Action report on food security and agriculture<http://www.fao.org/3/CA1545EN/ca1545en.pdf>, summarizing the major risks to agriculture and food security, their likelihood and probable impact. Among other issues, the report covers ASF in Asia (page 50).
* FAO comments on the ASF current global situation<http://www.emergence-msd-animal-health.com/FocusOn.aspx>.
EUROPE:
* The FAO’s ASF Manual on Detection and Diagnosis is now available in Serbian<http://www.fao.org/3/I7228RS/i7228rs.pdf>.
* Two scientific papers were recently published on FAO’s survey work in Georgia to better understand the backyard pig sector<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1156836/>. The methodology can be easily adapted to the many other countries where the low biosecurity sector presents a challenge in disease control. The two complementary PLoS ONE papers cover descriptive and multivariate analysis<https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0202800&type=printable> and the trade networks<https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0178904&type=printable>.
ASIA:
* FAO is putting together and distributing a Weekly Update on the ASF situation in China<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/Situation_update.html>. You can access the latest, but also all previously archived updates.
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3rd update on African swine fever activities at FAO (2 October 2018)
ASIA
* After the recent developments in China<http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/1151823/>, FAO convened an emergency meeting of animal health experts in Asia<http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/1151566/> in response to the ASF threat. The meeting took place on 5-7 September 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the objective to: 1) Review the ASF situation and risks to the rest of China and the region; 2) Develop a regional approach for ASF risk reduction, preparedness and response; 3) Identify priority actions required for countries in a short, medium and longer term; and 4) Facilitate the development of a stakeholder network for ASF.
* FAO has started releasing Weekly Updates on the ASF situation in China (the last released on 28 September).
* The FAO Manual on ASF detection and diagnosis is now available in Chinese<http://www.fao.org/3/I7228ZH/i7228zh.pdf>. The translation was done by the Veterinary Bureau and the China Animal Disease Control Center (CADC) and copies of the manual have already been printed and distributed in the field.
EUROPE
* The 11th meeting of the Standing Group of Experts on ASF in the Baltic and Eastern Europe region (SGE ASF11)<http://web.oie.int/rr-europe/eng/regprog/en_gf_tads%20-%20standing%20group%20asf.htm#SGE11> took place on 24-25 September in Warsaw, Poland. The meeting was organized under GF-TADs Europe, which is a joint initiative of FAO, the European Commission and OIE. All materials (presentations and recommendations) of the meeting will be made available online.
* The GF-TADs Handbook on ASF in wild boar and biosecurity during hunting<http://web.oie.int/RR-Europe/eng/eng/Regprog/docs/docs/GF-TADs%20Handbook_ASF_WILDBOAR%20version%202018-09-25.pdf> is now available as a joint publication between a joint initiative of the European Commission, FAO and OIE. This is a technical, but, at the same time, practical document containing a compendium of information about hunting management, biosecurity and wild boar carcass disposal. The purpose of document is to provide a fact-based overview of ASF ecology in the Northern and Eastern European populations of wild boar and briefly describe a range of practical management and biosecurity measures or interventions. Please note this is a living document, which will be updated as often as necessary.
GENERAL
* FAO published in September an Information sheet on ASF<http://www.fao.org/3/ca1477en/CA1477EN.pdf> on “African swine fever, a transboundary threat that requires regional and international cooperation”. The information sheet presents some key facts about ASF and describes how FAO has been assisting countries to manage and prevent the disease.
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2nd update on African swine fever activities at FAO (11 June 2018)
* FAO has developed a methodology that allows for the development of accurate and detailed maps on wild boar<http://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail-news/en/c/1136438/> distribution and abundance, enabling front-line professionals to improve the management and control of wild boar populations and their diseases.
* The English version of the Manual on African swine fever (ASF) detection and diagnosis in eBook format can be downloaded from MOBI<http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/faoweb/e-books/AFS/africanswinefever.mobi> | EPUB<http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/faoweb/e-books/AFS/africanswinefever.epub> . In addition, the manual is now in the process of being translated into Chinese, Lithuanian and Serbian.
* FAO has produced a rapid risk assessment of ASF introduction into China<http://www.fao.org/3/i8805en/I8805EN.pdf>.
* FAO participated at the 4th Annual Scientific Workshop of GARA<https://www.ars.usda.gov/GARA/events.htm> (the Global ASF Research Alliance) that took place in Cagliari-Sardinia, Italy, on 11-13 April 2018. FAO officers presented about the following research work:
* Wild boar mapping using population-density statistics: from polygons to high resolution raster maps<http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0193295>
* Modeling the live-pig trade network in Georgia: Implications for disease prevention and control<http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0178904&type=printable>
* Risk assessment on the threat of ASF to China<http://www.fao.org/3/i8805en/I8805EN.pdf>
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1st update on African swine fever activities at FAO (15 December 2017)
For your information, the new FAO manual on ASF that was already available in English (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7228e.pdf) is now also available in Russian (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7228r.pdf).
In addition, FAO recently organized a workshop on African swine fever management in wild boar together with Lithuanian SFVS, and the Veterinary Academy LUHS, under the umbrella of GF-TADs. All presentations (in English and Russian), as well as the agenda and some background information are available at http://www.fao.org/europe/events/detail-events/en/c/1051367/.
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