The Regional Division of Livestock, Health, and Animal Biodiversity of FAO in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean warmly welcomes you to the self-learning course “African Swine Fever Introductory Course”.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs, with a mortality rate that can reach 100%.

While this disease does not pose any danger to human health, it has devastating effects on pig populations and the economies of production systems. Currently, there is no effective vaccine against ASF.

The prevention of animal-origin health crises through early outbreak detection and the implementation of rapid response mechanisms for its elimination are fundamental components that national veterinary services must carry out to prevent the high social, economic, and environmental costs that an epidemic outbreak of African swine fever can cause.

This remote educational opportunity arises in response to the ongoing need for training for Veterinarians, Livestock Technicians, professionals involved in the pig production chain, students, among others. Understanding that the introduction of the virus triggers a health crisis with enormous economic losses due to the decline in pig production (high mortality) and restrictions on the trade of animals and products, particularly at the international level, the implementation of prevention measures is of paramount importance in the affected country.