Introduction
The first North American African Swine Fever (NA-ASF) Forum took place in Ottawa in 2019, focusing on 4 areas of action: preparedness planning, enhanced biosecurity, ensuring business continuity and coordinated risk communications. Since then, countries in the Americas and around the globe have made significant strides in these areas. However, despite tremendous international efforts, ASF continues to devastate economies and cause significant production losses in affected regions of the world. Since January 2022, 10 countries have reported ASF for the first time, while 14 countries have reported its spread to new areas. The disease has also remerged in regions that had effectively managed it for decades.
This ongoing spread of ASF, coupled with the lack of treatment and the absence of vaccines suitable for widespread use, continues to keep industry and veterinary authorities on high alert worldwide. Since 2018, mitigating and responding to the animal health and socio-economic threats posed by ASF in the Americas has been a priority for governments. Efforts have focused on performing stronger surveillance, conducting exercises, addressing research gaps, initiating improvements to biosecurity and coordinating mechanisms among partners to prevent and respond to the threat of ASF.
Objective
The fourth NA-ASF Forum will bring together invited government and industry leaders and decision-makers to address the ongoing threat of ASF to the Americas. Taking a past, present, and future look, the forum will focus on evaluating progress that countries have made to date, learning from recent outbreaks in Europe and Asia, and identifying areas where continued efforts are required to maintain vigilance in our collective fight against ASF. This continued collaboration is essential in mitigating and managing the risk of ASF in the Americas.
Target audience
- Decision makers in government departments of agriculture and livestock production
- Pork industry leaders
- International ASF experts
- Chief Veterinary officers and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) delegates
- International animal health organizations
- State and provincial Chief Veterinary Officers
- Other stakeholders such as wildlife and public safety experts.
The North American African Swine Fever Forum 2024
The fourth NA-ASF Forum will be a focused, two-and-a-half-day event exploring past successes, current experiences, and ongoing challenges in ASF control. Activities will focus on the "past, present and future" in the 4 key areas of action: preparedness planning, enhanced biosecurity, ensuring business continuity and coordinated risk communication. Currently in development, the agenda will cover a number of topics including compartments and other business continuity programs, wild pigs, and the use of vaccination. Sessions will feature a mix of presentations and interactive discussions to reach a consensus on where ongoing efforts for ASF control should be focused.
Intended outcomes
- Highlight past successes in ASF prevention and preparedness
- Develop a collaborative roadmap for ongoing management of the ASF threat
- Reconfirm partnerships for continued coordination and collaboration