Swine fever outbreak in the country is “under control,” says Andres Bautista

Santo Domingo — The Administrative Minister of the Presidency, Andrés Bautista, assured this Friday that the recent resurgence of African swine fever (ASF) in some localities of the country is “under absolute control” and affirmed that the authorities have taken the necessary measures to avoid its propagation.

Bautista, an expert in agricultural matters, reported that the government had allocated billions of pesos to compensate pig farmers affected by the slaughter of their pigs due to the new wave of the disease.

“The General Directorate of Livestock goes and makes daily analyses of the farms,” said the official.

Bautista told the media that the resurgence has not reached large herds or organized farms, but it has affected small producers, whose farms face more difficulties in controlling the disease.

“In those foci, the pigs are eliminated,” he said. “That prevents contagion to other parts. There are also checkpoints in different parts of the country to avoid the transfer of pigs in a disorganized manner.”

Bautista added that, given the ASF rebound, the authorities had strengthened biosecurity measures for pig farmers to reinforce controls and prevent the further spread of the disease on farms.

The executive branch’s agricultural advisor, Erick Rivero, pointed out that the authorities carry out “permanently” between 15 and 20 surveys at the national level. At the same time, the central veterinary laboratory processes thousands of tests per week.

“We have been preserving the big companies where the genetics and the most important (pigs) are. And they have been giving support from the State to the small producers that are affected,” he said.

In the municipality of El Pino, Dajabón province, authorities confirmed the death of a large number of pigs. In Espaillat, at least 400 pigs were slaughtered due to ASF.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a disease caused by a highly contagious virus exclusively in pigs; it poses no health risk to humans, according to the Dirección General de Ganadería.

He explained that the ASF virus causes a highly fatal hemorrhagic fever in pigs and is easily transmitted directly between affected animals and by contact with contaminated objects such as clothing, footwear, vehicles, or equipment.

ASF often enters a farm by feeding pigs with leftover or uncooked food scraps and garbage from diseased pig by-products such as meats and sausages.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a disease caused by a highly contagious virus exclusively in pigs; it poses no health risk to humans, according to the Dirección General de Ganadería.

He explained that the ASF virus causes a highly fatal hemorrhagic fever in pigs and is easily transmitted directly between affected animals and by contact with contaminated objects such as clothing, footwear, vehicles, or equipment.

ASF often enters a farm by feeding pigs with leftover or uncooked food scraps and garbage from diseased pig by-products such as meats and sausages.