The Control of Classical Swine Fever project is up and running again, having suspended operations temporarily because of the earthquake.

The new actions of the project designed to help control classical swine fever include vaccination, training activities, research, and the establishment of partnerships.

The promotion of work with other entities has been one of the initiative’s key emphases, demonstrating its efficacy and value. During the first half of 2010, two missions of specialists from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) met in Haiti with all the institutions linked to animal health, to coordinate actions.

Two binational meetings also took place with the specialists implementing the classical swine fever project in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, thereby strengthening the technical work in both countries.

Furthermore, four Haitian and four Dominican officials met with USDA representatives in Washington to review the project’s progress and make recommendations for its continuity in the years ahead.

The actions on the ground during the period under review included the vaccination of more than 274,000 pigs in the provinces with the biggest hog populations; and the taking of 1347 blood samples to determine the virulence of the disease.

The project supported the rabies vaccination campaign, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Government of Brazil. Thanks to this partnership, 427,000 cats and dogs were vaccinated nationwide.

Three training courses were also held, for 32 agronomists and veterinarians from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal Health Directorate.

IICA and other strategic partners carried out these and other actions to promote agricultural health and thereby increase the island’s international trade, with effects on the economy, production, and food security.

More information: alfredo.mena@iica.int