Understanding the risks of African Swine Fever (ASF) is critical in mitigating the impact of the disease should it reach our shores.

This was the objective of an Awareness and Emergency Preparedness training which was conducted for the Ministry of Agriculture and Biosecurity officer in the Western Division.

More than 60 officers attended the training in Nadi with an aim to better prepare them to tackle ASF if it reaches Fiji. The officers also visited a farm in Vaivai, Lautoka as part of the training.

BAF Acting chief executive officer, Surend Pratap said biosecurity officers and animal and health workers play a critical role to ensure exotic viral diseases like ASF, do not enter our borders.

“Fiji is currently free of ASF. However, its presence in neighbouring countries poses a significant threat to the region and Fiji deems it necessary to ensure our country remains free of this deadly disease. We cannot achieve success alone unless we have the support of all relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division Animal Health and Production Officer, Elenoa Salele, said with the disease now present in Papua New Guinea, the region would need to scale up border control measures.

The awareness training was held in collaboration with SPC and The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program (PHAMA Plus). It started at the Central Division. The next training would be held in the North next month.  Edited by Selita Rabuku.

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