In Cambodia, the African swine fever (ASF) was firstly detected in the pig population in April 2019 in Ratanakiri province. The virus has spread to four areas of Cambodia, including Tboung Khmum, Svay Rieng, Takeo, and Kandal provinces, where 3,575 pigs have either died from it or been culled. It has also impacted Cambodia’s pig production in 2019, which declined to twenty percent compared to 2018. ASF virus is very resistant and survives long period in various conditions in the pig population. There is yet no authorized ASF vaccine with proven efficacy and safety to prevent the disease.   

FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) teamed up with Cambodia’s Directorate General of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP) to improve early detection and rapid response as crucial control measures to reduce impacts caused by ASF in the country.

Between 22 September and 13 October 2021, FAO and GDAHP organized ASF training for veterinary officials at the sub-national level in Kandal, Tboung Khmum, and Ratanakiri provinces. The series of trainings were participated by representatives from the GDAHP, the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFF) and around fifty trainees who are provincial and district veterinarians from the Office of Agronomy, Environment and Natural Resources.

“The main objective of the training is to strengthen the field capacities to optimally prepare, early detect, and respond to ASF, to prevent further spreading of the disease from their respective areas.”  Said Dr. Holl Davun, Deputy Director-General of the GDAPH, in his opening remarks.

 Each training was conducted for two days using combination modalities, including presentations, plenary discussions, and simulation exercises. Topics such as ASF clinical signs, laboratory diagnostics, risk pathway identification, proper animal movement restriction, 3D (depopulation, disposal, decontamination) implementation, wild boar risk management, biosecurity measures, and reporting were covered.

“The training equips veterinary officers to become the trainers at district and province levels, who will help to lead actions and ensure effective control of the ASF outbreak at the grassroots,” explained Mr. Heng Piseth, Director of PDAFF in Tboung Khmum province. He also encouraged the district veterinary officers to immediately report any event of animal diseases to the provincial animal health and production office.

“Despite the COVID-19 situation, it is crucial to continue supporting the Government of Cambodia to fight against high-impact diseases such as ASF,” said Dr Hak Makara, Senior National Technical Advisor for Animal Health, FAO's ECTAD in Cambodia. “Over the past year, FAO Cambodia has been joint efforts with the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, organized two national-level trainings and two others in Svay Rieng and Takeo provinces, following the Regional Training of Trainers on ASF Detection and Emergency Response for Southeast Asia on 22 June – 02 July 2020.”