Experience and challenges dealing with backyard pig farms during ASF outbreaks in Latvia Edvins Olsevskis, DVM, PhD Riga, 23.03.2015.
Content of the presentation: Pig breeding sector in Latvia African swine fever in Latvia first cases and further developments Results of the epidemiological investigation in 32 pig farms affected by ASF Conclusions Main challenges for veterinary authorities 2
Pig breeding sector in Latvia In total, 7039 farms with pigs (data on 20th July, 2014): 3 farms with more than 20 000 pigs 42 farms with 100019 999 pigs 63 farms with 100999 pigs 77 farms with 5099 pigs 662 farms with 1049 pigs 840 farms with 59 pigs 4874 farms with 14 pigs 3
Pig breeding sector in Latvia (1) 4
Pig breeding sector in Latvia (2) Pig density in Latvia 5
Pig breeding sector in Latvia (2) Density of backyard pig farms in Latvia 6
ASF in Latvia first cases On 26 th June 2014 Latvia notified first case of African swine fever (ASF) in three wild boar found dead on the border with Belarus. On the 26 th June NRL confirmed ASF outbreak in three domestic pigs in one back yard holding in Krāslava county, Robežnieki parish about 6 km from Belarus border. 7
The first backyard farm affected by ASF 8
First outbreak: description and results of an epidemiological investigation 3 fattening pigs kept (indoors) suspects notified to veterinarian after home slaughter Regular visits to Belarus (owner) Possibly swill feeding No direct or indirect contact with wild boar No pigs introduced for several months Possible date of the infection 1015 June 9
ASF in pig farms in Latvia summary for 2014 32 ASF outbreaks in pig farms confirmed 28 primary outbreaks / 4 secondary Smallest farm affected 1 pig, largest 196 pigs 31 outbreak (97%) was reported as suspects by farmers 63 pigs found with clinical signs, 38 found dead ASF virus has been confirmed in 72 pigs 564 pigs were killed and destroyed poor biosecurity level in most of affected farms 10
ASF in Latvia in 2014 summary and restricted territories according to Decision 2014/709/EU 11 1 1
Number of pigs within a farm ASF in pig farms in Latvia summary for 2014 The size of farms affected by ASF 18 16 16 14 12 10 8 6 5 5 5 4 2 0 13 411 1225 2660 60 > Number of pig farms 1 12
ASF in backyard pig farms 13 1 3
ASF in backyard pig farms 14 14
ASF in backyard pig farms 15 15
Results of epidemiological investigation in farms affected by ASF The main possible sources of the infection: Swill feeding (in 29 farms) Possibly direct contact with infected wild boar (in 1 farm) Feeding of potentially contaminated green grass indirect contact with wild boar (12 farms) Human factor regular contacts between small farms (neighbors, relatives, workers etc.,) (4 farms) INSUFICIENT BIOSECURITY 16
Biosecurity requirements for pig farms: Adopted in July, 2014 (Reg. of Cabinet of Ministers No.621) Initially, very strict and similar to all pig farms Initially, mandatory to pig farms within ASF risk areas Preventive slaughtering in farms not filling requirements: 5 923 pigs slaughtered in 1633 farms Signature for ban of keeping pigs for at least 1 year = compensation from government 17
Number of outbreaks The impact of biosecurity on the dynamics of ASF in pig farms 9 8 7 Introduction of biosecurity requirements 6 5 4 Last outbreak 3 2 1 0 23/06 29/06 30/06 06/07 07/07 13/07 14/07 20/07 21/07 27/07 28/07 03/08 04/08 10/08 11/08 17/08 18/08 24/08 25/08 31/08 01/09 07/09 Weeks 08/09 14/09 15/09 21/09 22/09 28/09 29/09 30/09 01/10 05/10 06/10 12/10 13/10 19/10 20/10 26/10 27/10 02/11 03/11 09/11 Latgale Valka 18
Conclusions 1. Backyard farms with low biosecurity level are the main target for ASF virus 2. Poor biosecurity level facilitates the spread of ASF virus 3. The implementation of strict biosecurity requirements protect farms from the introduction of ASF virus (even in a crisis situation) 4. Backyard (hobby) farms are not always registered that can give a negative impact on disease control measures (time, resources, equipment etc.) 5. Public awareness campaigns (before and during crisis) are very effective tool in a disease prevention 6. Getting the trust of backyard farmers and explanation of the importance of biosecurity measures take time but are essential 19
Public awareness campaigns CSF and ASF leaflets (1) 20
Public awareness campaigns poster «BIOSECURITY» 21
Challanges for Veterinary authorities The number of backyard farms reality vs register (DB) Legal basis for biosecurity and checks of the implementation Readiness to «worst case scenario» Specific section on eradication measures in backyard farms in Contingency plan Backyard farmers: mentality, lifestyle, traditions and breaking of stereotypes... Active awareness campaigns (preventive and crisis) Destruction of carcasses and ABP Involvement of different institutions (Police, Rescue service, municipalities, Environment service etc.,) readiness and contacts, Epidemiological investigation to train people (not true information is often given by farmers) 22
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