A “re-emerging threat” has come to the fore and threatens the safety of pigs and the swine industry in general and it comes in the form of African Swine Fever, a release from the Department of Agriculture (St. Kitts) says.

The presence of the disease in the Caribbean region brings to the forefront the many longstanding policies fashioned for the protection of our twin island federation’s animal population and people including strict import requirements.

African swine fever is a viral disease which affects all pigs. It would have spread across the UK and to the Caribbean and Brazil in the 1980s where outbreaks were stamped out after devastating industries. The disease reappeared in the Western Hemisphere after an absence of almost 40 years, in the Dominican Republic and Haiti in July 2021.

The virus can remain infectious for many months on surfaces and in unprocessed pig meat. However, it can be inactivated by heating at 70°C for 30mins. Infected pigs may have reddened areas on their ears, flanks, legs, underside and also vomiting and/or diarrhoea with bloody discharge. At present, there is no known cure for the disease.

The release mentioned “the (Agriculture) Department has and will continue to sensitize the public about these policies periodically, while ensuring that there is safe and quality meat and meat products for consumption by the public.”