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SHIC Monitoring Newly Identified Swine Disease in Ecuador

September 28, 2022 — Paul Sundberg

ProMED, a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, published an article on September 22, 2022, reporting an undiagnosed swine disease in Ecuador. This report stated CSF has been ruled out in the Esmeraldas province after a disease alert was raised on September 7, 2022. No additional alerts have been issued.

The lab at Agrocalidad, Ecuador's agriculture quality assurance agency, tested two dozen samples, subsequently issuing the negative results for CSF. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Ecuador is engaged and the ProMED report said sites where the undiagnosed disease were located had been visited with sanitary work carried out.

The "Global Program - Transboundary Animal Diseases" (GF-TADs) is a joint initiative of the WOAH and FAO to help in the fight against the most significant transboundary animal diseases around the world. Because of USDA's continued offer for diagnostic assistance through the Caribbean as well as Central and South America, the GF-TADS is aware of the outbreak and has offered additional diagnostic support from laboratories recognized by WOAH for their ability to confidently process diagnostic samples and test for ASF.

Even though the testing has been negative for CSF, immunizations for CSF are underway with the report stating 42 farms and 596 animals would be involved. The ProMed article reported there are two vaccination operators in the Esmeraldas province and wider plans for immunizations exist. "In the green province, a vaccination goal of 745 000 animals has been established and 53 000 doses have already been applied so far. In San Lorenzo around 1531 animals have already been inoculated within the immunization process for pigs."

SHIC will continue to monitor the situation in Ecuador where a definitive diagnosis for the sick pigs is being sought.

SHIC, launched by the National Pork Board in 2015 solely with Pork Checkoff funding, continues to focus efforts on prevention, preparedness, and response to novel and emerging swine disease for the benefit of US swine health. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. SHIC is funded by America's pork producers to fulfill its mission to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Paul Sundberg at psundberg@swinehealth.org.

Paul Sundberg, Executive Director, Swine Health Information Center