The government has approved a contingency plan in case of an emergency due to African swine fever

By Govt National Agricultural Food Sanitation and Quality Service (SENASA)Approved A contingency plan In case of emergency African swine fever (ASF).

The Resolution 275/2023Published on Monday Official announcementEstablishes planned actions with the objective “to be used if one or more cases of ASF are confirmed in any part of the national territory”.Control and reduce the impact of this disease In domestic pig population, pig production and the agro-food chain”.

“A contingency plan is most effective as a rapid response device in the face of early disease detection (when it has not yet spread to large areas of the territory),” the government explained. “For this reason, it is very important for all actors in contact with pig production and wildlife to be sensitized by detecting suspicions of disease and notifying SENASA,” the administrative authority said in a statement released last hour. .

Argentina has a different health status with regard to ASF, which has been endemic since 2007 Asia and EuropeSpread through the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Russia and countries in 2018 People’s Republic of China; Later affecting other neighboring Asian countries and Central Europe –Belgium in 2019 And Germany in 2020-, and at the end of July 2021Confirmed at different points Dominican Republic.

Within this framework, SENASA has a response system for health emergencies, which it must contain and destroy according to the characteristics of the disease and adapt the health measures. In this sense, the standard is based on the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA) regarding sanitary measures for humane slaughter, control of movements and continuity of trade.

The draft contingency plan was put out for public consultation before the decision was published in the official gazette. Its formalization this morning was established in its main points: the definition of a confirmed case of ASF, the creation of epidemiological zones to effectively control outbreaks, cleaning and disinfection processes to remove components contaminated with the ASF virus, sealing (under animal welfare concepts. ) to eliminate any source of the virus, to reduce the spread of wild pigs Health measures for treatment and restoration of free health status.

“This new resolution establishes a regulatory framework for communication and coordination between veterinary services, as well as wildlife, public forces and, essentially, the private sector,” said Diana Guillen, the organization in charge.

“Maintaining the health heritage of pigs is everyone’s responsibility, and we have the cooperation of actors involved in protecting animal health and feeding,” the SENASA statement concluded.

African swine fever is an exotic, contagious, highly pathogenic, transboundary, hemorrhagic disease. Affects domestic and wild pigs, with high rates of infection. It causes 100% mortality in pigs, leading to severe economic losses.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), ASF does not pose any risk to human health in terms of risk of infection to humans, either through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of any products of porcine origin. .

This disease Very contagious Because The virus that causes it has the ability to survive in organic matter for long periods of time (Blood, non-heat processed meat dishes, carcasses, etc.). About A virus that is extremely dangerous and has no effective vaccine This allows disease to be controlled.

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