Preventing and controlling outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) in resources limited settings and communities in West Africa

Dakar, Senegal – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has organized between 12 June and 16 July 2024 a virtual learning course on prevention and control of African Swine Fever (ASF) in resources limited setting. This online course gathered professionals and stakeholders of the pig value chain from both public and private sector coming from eight western countries of West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo).   

Hosted by the FAO Virtual Learning Center (VLC) for West Africa, this course aims to strengthen the knowledge and skills of value chains actors of the pig industry from West Africa, on prevention and control options gains ASF, especially in setting where resources are limited.   

It includes four self-directed online interactive modules which provide the participants with key information and allow experience sharing on the disease through the discussion forum and highly interactive and participatory workshops. The content of this course was developed from a guideline document prepared by a global pool of expert “African swine fever prevention, detection and control in resource-limited settings”.   

A total of 131 professionals and pig value chain actors from the eight West African States attend this online course, delivered by FAO with the support of a team of regional facilitators and experts on ASF. 

Regional Control and prevention efforts against ASF are needed for preserving the pig industry in West Africa  

Pig farming in West Africa is booming, with growth rates between 5% and 10% across the region. The total number of pigs is estimated at over 16.5 million head in 2022, a 4.3% increase from 2019 (FAOSTAT, 2022). However, African Swine Fever (ASF) remains one of the main constraints affecting pig production in West Africa, where it is endemic, causing serious socio-economic consequences on regional and international trade.  

Intra-regional trade in live pigs and pork products, as well as the movement of people between countries due to economic and conflict-related factors, contribute to the spread of the disease across borders. Although underreported, outbreaks of ASF have been regularly recorded in several West African countries over the past decade, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Togo, Senegal, Ghana, and Cape Verde.  

“ASF therefore poses a persistent threat to the pig industry in these countries, especially for resource-constrained communities. Addressing this challenge is crucial to sustaining the growth and development of the West African pig value chain”, highlighted by Lionel Gbaguidi, the Animal Health and Production Unit officer of FAO's Subregional Office for West Africa.   

This course gave the opportunity for co-creation, discussion and experience sharing on feasible options in resource limited setting among countries and peers of the pig value chains. The key importance of community engagement in the prevention and control of ASF was discussed using the sanitary defense group (SDG) model established in Côte d’Ivoire as a showcase. “SDGs were very instrumental to detect infected farms, for getting accurate statistics from the field and to foster implantation of control measures in the ongoing outbreak. They have proven to be very helpful from our surveillance and response activities in the field” testified a participant from Veterinary services of Côte d’Ivoire, a country who currently fighting against an active outbreak of ASF since April 2024. 

FAO Virtual Learning Centers  

The Virtual Learning Centers (VLCs) are virtual platforms created by FAO to strengthen and enhance One Health capacity in all FAO regions. Their mission is to provide learners with access to inclusive, challenging and high-quality training using a variety of methodologies. VLCs use a decentralized model that allows FAO regions to develop and deliver courses that take into account regional needs and contexts. This online course is organized by the FAO Virtual Training Centre for West Africa, in place since the second half of 2023, within the Animal Health and Animal Production Unit of the FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa.