Simulation exercise: African swine fever in Honduras

25 to 29 July 2022

Dr. Rafael Rodriguez Alvarado, Delegate to OMSA and Technical Director of Animal Health, informed OMSA that the National Service of Agri-Food Health and Quality (SENASA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) of Honduras will conduct a simulation exercise on African Swine Fever (ASF) from 25 to 29 July in the city of Comayagua. This simulation exercise is part of the continuous training process of the Veterinary Services of Honduras.

The specific objectives are:

1. Theoretical training in African swine fever, emergency response, traceability, sample collection, laboratory diagnostics, risk analysis and biosafety.
2. Assess the response capacity of the Veterinary Services of Honduras to respond to the potential entry of African swine fever into the country.
3. Strengthen biosecurity and epidemiological surveillance procedures related to the prevention of African swine fever.
4. Strengthen technical skills and create national rapid response groups.

Among the 40 professionals who will participate in the exercise are: staff from the Technical Direction of Animal Health (both veterinarians and field technicians), staff from the Technical Direction of Agricultural Quarantine and Laboratory. There will also be national and regional representation from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) as collaboration from swine farmers, the Regional Centre of the National University of Agriculture, and the Technified and Family Farms of the Department of Comayagua.

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World Animal Health Information and Analysis Department
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
[email protected]