The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Management Centre for Animal Health (EMC-AH) launched an African swine fever (ASF) ‘Alert’ mission to Lao PDR on 02-07 June 2019 to assist the Government in its efforts to prevent, detect and control the spread of the disease in the country. The mission was conducted in partnership with FAO Laos, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). Mission team members consulted with animal health officials on actions to prevent the disease introduction.

No outbreaks of ASF have been reported, however, Lao PDR shares a border with Viet Nam, Cambodia and China countries that are currently responding to ASF outbreaks within their own pig populations. Upon official request from the Laos animal health authorities, a team, including experts from FAO and OIE was deployed to the country where they met with multiple stakeholders, including government officials and private sector representatives.

It is important to note that ASF does not pose a human health risk. It only infects domestic and wild pigs. The virus is very stable, survives for a long time outside the host and can spread easily among the pig population.  It can also survive for long periods in preserved pork products (salted, dried or cured) and feeding swill can spread the virus to non-infected pigs. At this time, there is no effective vaccine or cure for the disease. The disease is controlled through culling of infected animals, strict border and movement control, proper biosecurity measures and preventative action.

Relevant links:

FAO Cambodia ASF news:

http://www.fao.org/cambodia/news/detail-events/en/c/1197791/

Latest situation updates in South East Asia: 

http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/ASF/situation_update.html

Good Emergency Management Practices (GEMP) guide:

http://www.fao.org/3/a-ba0137e.pdf

FAO Emergency Management Centre for Animal Health (EMC-AH)

http://www.fao.org/emergencies/how-we-work/prepare-and-respond/emc-ah/en/