Animal Health Contingency Planning

An African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in the United States would result in the loss of fresh pork exports and a decrease in pig price. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code provides a potential opportunity for packers, working with swine production systems and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), to maintain a significant portion of exports during an ASF outbreak through a combination of producer biosecurity and surveillance, packers only accepting pigs from production systems that meet specific requirements, and the USDA developing veterinary certificates for export stating the pork shipment meets the OIE requirements.

The purpose of writing this review is to determine the role of reproductive technology in increasing the population of pigs after the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak. The method used in writing this review is to search for published research articles using Google search and Science direct with the keywords African swine fever and Artificial Insemination (AI). The results of this review show that ASF can reduce the population due to the high mortality rate, ASF can be transmitted through the reproductive organs but this can be overcome by utilizing IB reproductive technology. In addition, AI reproductive technology is also one of the reproductive technologies that can be used to increase the livestock population after the ASF outbreak. Based on the review, it can be ensured that artificial insemination reproductive technology is able to prevent ASF transmission and increase livestock populations after the ASF outbreak.

Simple SummaryThe persecution of ravens ceased in the middle of the 20th century, and consequently their abundance started to rise in most European countries. Ravens are food opportunists that can eat plants, prey on animals, and feed on garbage dumps. However, carrion plays a crucial role in their diet. In Central Poland, the carrion of farm animals (disposed of illegally) was thought to be the main food source for ravens. This changed radically in February 2014, after the first case of African swine fever (ASF) in Poland, and the introduction of strict procedures for the utilization of pig and wild boar carcasses to stop the spread of the virus. This decrease in carrion availability influenced the raven population; ravens changed their diet, i.e., instead of feeding on the carrion of pigs (previously their main dietary component), they ate (among others) the carrion of domestic dogs and cats, and also preyed on small vertebrates. Consequently, the number of breeding raven pairs decreased, and birds produced fewer fledglings. This research showed how certain human activities influence wildlife. The illegal disposal of dead animals, motivated by the desire to save money, resulted in abundant food sources for ravens and an increase in population size.Carrion plays a crucial role in the raven’s diet. In the past, domestic pig carrion was widely available in Poland. This changed with an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak and the introduction of strict procedures aimed at stopping the virus from spreading. We compared data from Central Poland (field and forest mosaic, study area of 105 km2) for two periods, i.e., before (2011–2014) and after the ASF outbreak (2015–2018). In breeding seasons, nests of ravens were found, juveniles were counted, and the time when juveniles left their nests was recorded. Diet composition data were based on pellet analysis and direct observations of feeding birds. The number of breeding pairs dropped from 12.3 to 7.5 in the second period. Breeding parameters were similar. However, birds in the second period had fewer fledglings per successful pair. Domestic pig carrion was found to be an important food item, and with its limited supply, ravens changed their diet, i.e., they fed on the carrion of dogs and cats or preyed on small vertebrates more often. Overall, our study points to a crucial role of the availability of the carrion of big farm animals (i.e., domestic pig) in maintaining the high density of breeding raven populations.

Use of the Information System SMS Alert for the management of risk communication in animal epidemic emergencies -African Swine Fever (A.S.F.)

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) was first detected in December 1989 in the southern region of Malawi. During 1990 the outbreak reached epidemic proportions: by August 1990, over 31,000 pigs (45%) from a population of 70,000 in the affected areas had died or been slaughtered. In affected villages this accounted for 83% of the pigs present. The outbreak probably originated in the central region of Malawi, where ASF is enzootic. Virus isolates from the southern and central region outbreaks in 1989-1990 were indistinguishable using DNA restriction fragment pattern analysis. The rapid spread of the disease and the difficulty experienced in halting this spread are discussed. Important factors included the type of pig husbandry (mainly scavenging without penning) and the fact that veterinary field staff lacked the mobility to ensure the observance of restrictions. New initiatives will be required--in particular, raising public awareness and developing community participation--if ASF is to be controlled in the future.

African swine fever is a dangerous viral disease of pigs that is widespread and causes enormous economic damage to the pig industry. In this regard, it is important to monitor the epizootic situation and evaluate the effectiveness of antiepizootic work in this infection. The methods of complex epizootological research were used in the work. The initial data were accounting and reporting materials of the State Veterinary Committee of the Republic of Crimea, operational information from the official website of the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The first outbreak of African swine fever on the territory of the Republic of Crimea was registered in early 2016 in the Razdolnenskiy district, the cause of which has not been fully clarified. Subsequently, in the period 2016-2017, 26 new outbreaks of ASF disease were detected among wild and domestic animals. In December 2023 and March 2024, epizootic outbreaks of African swine fever were observed among domestic pigs in the villages of Malovidnoe and Uglovoe, Bakhchisarayskiy district. In order to prevent the introduction of the African swine fever virus into safe regions, it is necessary to carry out educational and awareness-raising work among the population and personnel on the possible ways of introduction and spread of the ASF pathogen. Managers of pig-breeding enterprises and owners should be obliged to create conditions for feeding and keeping animals in accordance with veterinary and sanitary norms and instructions of veterinary specialists. It is also necessary to vaccinate animals against erysipelas and classical swine fever in time, to regularly disinfect and deratize the premises, to prevent the accumulation of waste. All cases of disease and death of pigs should be immediately reported to the veterinary service, and unhindered access for veterinarians for sampling and appropriate action should be ensured. It is important to ban domestic slaughter and carefully control the movement of people, animals and feed, especially from unfavorable areas.

BackgroundPakistan grapples with the issue of an inadequate neurosurgery workforce but the reasons for such a disparity remain uncertain. Previous studies have highlighted how various factors including medical school experiences have an impact on career choice, but no study has delved into the impact of medical school exposure among Pakistani medical students, especially for the field of neurosurgery. This study aims to evaluate the impact of neurosurgery exposure, mentorship, and interest groups on medical students' decision to pursue neurosurgery.MethodsA national cross-sectional survey was conducted in Pakistan, collecting data from medical students, interns, and medical officers over a one-month period. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee at Aga Khan University, Pakistan. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 26.ResultsOut of 2618 participants, 38.0% were male and 62.0% were female, with an average age of 21.82 years (± 2.65). Among them, only 358 (13.6%) were interested in pursuing neurosurgery as a career, while the remaining 2,260 (86.3%) were not. More females (58.9%) than males (41.1%) expressed interest in pursuing neurosurgery as their intended career. Most medical students interested in pursuing neurosurgery were in the early years of their medical school (1st Year: 19.6%, 2nd Year: 26.0%, 3rd Year: 20.9%). In our study, students from public sector institutions (52.2%) showed more interest in neurosurgery as a career choice compared to those from private sector institutions (44.1%). The main deterrents for choosing neurosurgery were intense training (42.2%), work-life balance (39.9%), limited residency slots (56.7%), medical knowledge (34.1%), and surgical skills (36.6%).ConclusionThis study highlights the need for increased student engagement to inculcate the decision to pursue neurosurgery among medical students in Pakistan. A significant gap is highlighted, with the majority of interested students in early years. Public sector students show higher interest than their private sector counterparts. However, barriers like intense training, limited residency slots, and work-life balance concerns influence career choice. Targeted interventions like mentorship programs are crucial for fostering future neurosurgeons and advancing patient care and research. By addressing the identified disparities in experiences and promoting a supportive educational environment, it is possible to cultivate a future generation of skilled and dedicated neurosurgeons who can contribute to advancements in patient care and research in the field.

Cooperation between veterinary and public health authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their respective field services has historically been weak and inefficient. As is the case in many countries, animal health and public health fall under separate ministries with animal health the responsibility of the ministry of agriculture and public health the ministry of health. This model has promoted interagency competition for funding for disease surveillance and control. It has also resulted in poor information exchange, lack of efficient utilization of diagnostic resources, and poor harmonization of policies. Political decentralization, established in Bosnia after the Dayton peace agreement, resulted in the lack of a national-level responsibility for animal or public health. This was instead placed at mid-governmental levels. A state (national) veterinary office was created in 2000, but there still remains no national public health agency. The H5N1 Avian Influenza (AI) outbreak which began in Southeast Asia in 2003 and reached Europe in 2005 raised concerns about Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) preparedness to combat pandemic disease. Accordingly, the state (national) veterinary service of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) conducted exercises which resulted in increased monitoring of wild and domestic bird populations and the drafting and adoption of a contingency plan (CP) for AI. The activities prescribed by the CP were implemented in February 2006 when the H5N1 virus was diagnosed in wild swans. However, no cooperation was established with public health authorities during this incident, further underscoring the need for a one health approach to disease control activities. Adoption of the One Health concept is challenging, and there is no simple plan that can be applied across all cultures. To prevent it from simply existing as an idealistic theory, some revision is needed and practical guidelines must be developed. The authors will include suggestions as to how this might be achieved.

The experience during African swine fever (ASF) virus outbreak can be devastating. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practise among pig farmers to avoiding resurgence of ASF outbreaks in Oyo and Ogun States of Nigeria where ASF outbreaks had been earlier reported. Non participatory observations and participatory interviews using pre-tested structured questionnaire were conducted in 2016 among 92 consenting pig farms post-ASF outbreak. The study showed that one in two of pig farms studied had suffered from ASF outbreak before. Meanwhile, several bio-security breaches that facilitate ASF and other infectious agents spread were still maintained including ‘farm restocking with ASF survivor pigs’ (61.5%; 32/52), ‘boar lending among farms for breeding purposes without examination’ (54.3%; 50/92), ‘extensive system and semi-intensive pig management’ (21.7%; 20/92), ‘farm attendants sharing among pig farms’ (19.6%; 18/92), ‘farm equipment/ implements/ facilities sharing among farms’ (22.8%; 21/92), selling of pig carcass (9.8%; 9/92), ‘carcass disposal in the bush’ (19.6%; 18/92). In this study we found out that management and bio-security activities in the pig farms studied were still poor and could place them at high risk of infection and repeated disease outbreaks in the future. The study suggests that pig farmers had not learnt from the previous ASF outbreaks. Therefore, proper sensitization on ASF epidemiology, public health significance and socioeconomic impact should be carried out. This study calls for swift action to prevent future calamities in pig production facilities in the study areas.
 Keywords: African swine fever, Biosecurity, Nigeria, Outbreak, Sensitization

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Infectious and zoonotic disease outbreaks have been linked to increasing volumes of legal and illegal trade. Spatio-temporal and trade network analyses have been used to evaluate the risks associated with these challenges elsewhere, but few details are available for the pig sector in South Africa. Regarding pig diseases, Limpopo province is important as the greater part of the province falls within the African swine fever control area. Emerging small-scale pig farmers in Limpopo perceived pig production as an important means of improving their livelihood and an alternative investment. They engage in trading and marketing their products with a potential risk to animal health, because the preferred markets often facilitate potential long-distance spread and disease dispersal over broad geographic areas. In this study, we explored the interconnectedness of smallholder pig farmers in Limpopo, determined the weaknesses and critical control points, and projected interventions that policy makers can implement to reduce the risks to pig health. The geo-coordinates of surveyed farms were used to draw maps, links and networks. Predictive risks to pigs were determined through the analyses of trade networks, and the relationship to previous outbreaks of African swine fever was postulated. Auction points were identified as high-risk areas for the spread of animal diseases. Veterinary authorities should prioritise focused surveillance and diagnostic efforts in Limpopo. Early disease detection and prompt eradication should be targeted and messages promoting enhanced biosecurity to smallholder farmers are advocated. The system may also benefit from the restructuring of marketing and auction networks. Since geographic factors and networks can rapidly facilitate pig disease dispersal over large areas, a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the complexities that exist around the animal disease epidemiology becomes mandatory.

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious haemorrhagic disease in pigs and has become endemic in several Vietnam provinces since the first outbreak in 2019. The presence of carriers and the recurrence of disease in the surviving swine herd after an ASF outbreak has not previously been properly evaluated. In this study, pigs naturally infected with an acute form of ASF were allowed to recover from the disease. A serological follow-up was conducted for more than 14 months with 14 convalescent gilts and their offspring. All convalescent animals had long lasting high serum antibody levels without persistent viremia. They also did not excrete virus via nasal discharge post-recovery. These convalescent pigs could partially perform as replacement gilts despite the fact that ASF affected reproductive performance. Here, we confirmed that there were neither the carriers of nor recurrence of disease in the convalescent pigs and their offspring following the outbreak of acute ASF. These findings may facilitate efforts to design a new farming model in ASF endemic provinces in Vietnam where there is a lack of a repopulation strategy due to the limited funding received from the local regulatory authorities.

Implementing Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in public sector’s performance management system is interesting, due to public sector’s concern for performance measurement. As one promising performance management tools, BSC was originally designed for the private sector institution, but later gaining its popularity among the public institutions. How well BSC implementation is possibly determined by some Critical Success Factors (CSFs). This study examined some CSFs in the BSC implementation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Indonesia using a qualitative study with an interactive model by Miles at al., (2014). This study found that BSC implementation brought changes in the MoFA’s performance, despite the absence of organizational changes for BSC adaptation. Top and middle management attention for the implementation and training and education are the most determining factors in the BSC implementation in MoFA. This study support the importance of the four CSFs examined in this study in implementing BSC in public sector.

Event Abstract Back to Event Spatio-temporal analysis of the local African swine fever epidemics in the Russian Federation, 2007 - 2015 Svetlana Malkhazova1, Fedor Korennoy2*, Olga Petrova2, Vladimir Gulenkin2 and Anton Karaulov2 1 Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia 2 Federal Center for Animal Health (FGBI ARRIAH), Russia Background and objectives African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, which since its introduction in 2007 has been spreading in the territory of the Russian Federation (RF), affecting both pigs in backyard holdings and large commercial farms, and wild boars. The disease leads to nearly 100% mortality in infected animals and causes huge economic losses to the country’s pig industry (Klinovitskaja et al., 2016). In the course of epidemics, the disease demonstrates both local transmission, which happens within relatively limited area between neighboring farms, villages, etc., and far distant transmission that leads to infection of new regions (Oganesyan et al., 2013; Malogolovkin et al., 2015). Previous studies found 156 km to be an average distance of the ASF spread between farms (Korennoy et al., 2014) and 133 km to be a maximum distance of the disease cases’ clustering in wild boars (Iglesias et al., 2016). The objectives of the present study were: 1) to detect spatio-temporal clusters of the ASF outbreaks the RF, treated as local epidemics; 2) to analyze within-cluster dynamics of outbreaks emergence in domestic and wild pigs; and 3) to reveal associations between within-cluster disease spread patterns and some geographical factors, which supposedly facilitate the local transmission of the ASF virus. Methods A map of the ASF outbreaks in the RF 2007-2015 was created using the national ASF incidence records. The Kulldorff space-time scan statistics (Kulldorff et al., 2005) was employed as a cluster analysis method to detect local ASF epidemics in: 1) domestic pigs’ population (DP); 2) wild boars population (WB), and 3) cumulative population of both. The main quantitative parameters of clusters including the radius, duration and the observed number of outbreaks were obtained. The correlation between the number of outbreaks and geographical factors within each statistically significant cluster was estimated. Results A total of 17, 9 and 17 statistically significant ASF outbreaks’ clusters were detected in PD, WB and cumulative populations respectively. It was found, that all clusters in WB comprise at least one outbreak in DP within the same time period, while only 7 out of 17 clusters in DP comprise WB outbreaks. Majority of cumulative population’s clusters in southern regions of the RF starts from outbreaks in WB, while clusters in central and north regions mainly start from DP outbreaks. Strong positive correlation between the observed number of outbreaks in domestic pigs and the total motorway length, total pig population and the number of rural settlements within the clusters was detected (Pearson correlation coefficients r = 0.83, 0.80 and 0.89 respectively). The number of outbreaks in wild boars and the forest coverage within the clusters were also found to strongly correlate (r = 0.96). Conclusions Our results agree well with the findings of previous studies, which revealed associations between the local ASF spread patterns and density of domestic pigs, densities of major roads and some other human economic activity-related factors (Korennoy et al., 2014; Vergne et al., 2016). It can concluded that the wild boar population should not be seen as a primary source of the disease spread in the RF. The obtained results are expected to contribute into development of a geospatial model for assessment of risks of the ASF local spread in case of the virus introduction into new areas. Acknowledgements The reported study was funded by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) according to the research project № 18-05-60037

Abstract. Indonesia is a country with a large population, with geographical conditions traversed by confluence of earth's plates that are actively moving, so that the area is prone to disasters. With these natural disasters, residents must be prepared for various kinds of disasters in order to save lives and minimize material losses and casualties. The level of preparedness for natural disasters should be instilled from the earliest possible age. One of the Muhammadiyah schools that is being reviewed in this service proposal is Muhammadiyah Middle School Sewon Bantul. This junior high school is located in Bandung Kulon, Pendowoharjo, Sewon. Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta. Looking historically, the Special Province of Yogyakarta is one of the areas in Indonesia which is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, exposure to volcanic ash from Mount Merapi, and cold lava. This school has general junior high school grade levels, namely grades seven, eight, and nine. From preliminary surveys and personal communications made to school administrators, it is known that there is no information and planning regarding natural disaster preparedness, and infrastructure related to evacuation routes and gathering points in the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake. Departing from the problems found and described above, it is deemed necessary to carry out community service at the school in relation to mapping the existing conditions of spatial functions, planning evacuation routes and assembly points, as well as outreach regarding disaster preparedness. It is hoped that with this community service, students can better understand and be aware of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters such as earthquakes, not causing panic, and reducing the risks of losses that can result from natural disasters. In the long term, it is hoped that with optimal assistance, teachers can guide students so they can be more prepared for natural disasters such as earthquakes and furthermore, insert in the subjects taught to junior high school students related to natural disaster preparedness.