𝟐𝟕 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑: The expert mission on African Swine Fever (ASF) from Emergency Management Centre (EMC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were in the country to assess the current ASF situation. The EMC mission consisted of ASF experts in laboratory diagnosis, risk communication and extension education, epidemiology and farm biosecurity. Bhutan experienced series of ASF outbreaks since May 2021 mostly in the Southern Dzongkhags. Most of these outbreaks were traced to illegal import of pork and pork products, feeding of improperly cooked kitchen waste and poor farm biosecurity. ASF is not zoonotic and therefore, not a disease of public health concern, however, it can cause high mortality resulting in catastrophic socio-economic consequences for the pig farming sector implicating threat to food security. Spread of the disease into wild boar population may result in establishment of disease endemicity and threat to wild pigs and possible ecological imbalance.
The ASF experts accompanied by officials from Department of Livestock, Bhutan Food and Drug Authority and FAO country office visited the National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang to assess the laboratory diagnostic capacity. The team also visited pig farms in Tsirang and Sarpang, Integrated Check Post, meat shops, Regional Vet Hospital and Epidemiology Centre (RVH & EC), Sarpang Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Tshethar Thsogpa, piggery cooperatives, National Piggery Farm in Gelephu to assess the field situation. Extensive discussions and interaction pursued throughout the visit.
Upon return to Thimphu, a debriefing session was organized to share the series of recommendations for strategizing effective control of ASF, way forward for piggery farming and surveillance of the disease in the wild pig population. The financial implication for mounting response measures and compensation for the pig farmers for the last 16 outbreaks has amounted to Nu. 33 million. The mission team also has framed recommendations to FAO-EMC which will culminate into FAO-TCP support for Bhutan. The project shall holistically engage all relevant stakeholders in an effort to prevent ASF in much more effective and cost-efficient ways.
𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: Dr. Narapati Dahal (Animal Health Specialist, DoL)
