Tuesday, July 23, 2019

CFIA runs ASF simulation exercise



The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Quebec agriculture department ran a simulation exercise for African Swine Fever in mid-June, the agency revealed today on its website.

Why it took so long to tell us is puzzling.

The exercise tested communications and preparedness in the event of an outbreak and extended to participants in New Brunswick.

And in Western Canada, the agency hosted an industry conference in Winnipeg to discuss plans and preparedness for an outbreak.

Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada, Dr. Jaspinder Komal, clarified that there have been no outbreaks of the deadly disease in Canada, but that’s it’s important to be prepared.

China has lost more than one million pigs to the disease, Viet Nam has suffered heavy losses and Bulgaria has had an outbreak on a breeding herd of 17,000 hogs.