Expanding the CanSpotASF program to provide African Swine Fever rule-out testing for invasive wild pigs is expected to further Canada’s efforts to establish zoning.
CanSpotASF, a voluntary African Swine Fever surveillance program that has provided no-charge rule-out testing for commercial pigs displaying symptoms similar to ASF since 2020, has been expanded to include invasive wild pigs. It is a proactive initiative to enhance Canada’s African Swine Fever (ASF) prevention and preparedness. This unique collaboration involves the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Animal Health Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and the swine industry. The ASF Executive Management Board (EMB) administers CanSpotASF, which includes representatives from provincial, federal, and territorial governments and industry stakeholders. The program is part of the broader Pan-Canadian ASF Action Plan, specifically under the preparedness planning pillar.
Key partners and their contributions to CanSpotASF include Animal Health Canada, which coordinates the initiative; the Canadian Pork Council and Canadian Meat Council, which provide support and industry representation; and Provincial Pork Boards and Provincial Governments, which offer local implementation and support. The CFIA provides federal oversight and support, while the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network labs conduct the necessary testing. The Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians offers veterinary input, and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network handle reporting and data analysis.
This collaborative effort ensures a comprehensive approach to ASF surveillance and preparedness across Canada, leveraging the strengths and resources of each partner to address and mitigate the risks associated with ASF effectively.
Dr. Amy Snow, the national manager of ASF programs and the planning chief in the Emergency Preparedness Structure with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said ASF is reportable under Canada’s Health of Animals Act.
The CFIA is crucial in managing swine diseases, particularly foreign animal diseases and those with trade impacts. In Canada, African Swine Fever (ASF) is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, requiring all suspected cases to be reported to the CFIA. If anyone detects ASF in Canada, the CFIA would collaborate with provincial and territorial governments and industry stakeholders to swiftly contain and eradicate the disease.
“No one has ever detected ASF in Canada, but outbreaks in other parts of the world and the international movement of people and goods have increased the risk that the disease could arrive in Canada,” said Dr. Snow.
If Canada had a case of ASF in any pig, domestic or wild, the trade in pigs and pork products would immediately stop, leaving many pigs without a viable market.
Snow said that once the industry contained the disease and response efforts are underway, it could take weeks or months for the CFIA to reestablish trade from Canada’s disease-free zone.
One way to minimize the trade impacts is to establish arrangements with countries before an ASF detection where they’ll accept CFIA’s use of zoning to contain the disease based on strong legislative tools and capacity for effective disease response.
“Having a comprehensive surveillance system in place for ASF demonstrates our commitment to detecting a disease early to the international community,” she said. “We hope surveillance of wild pigs will further advance zoning discussions with key markets.”
Snow emphasized that CanSpotASF’s success has resulted from tremendous collaboration among governments, industry, producers, processors, veterinarians, labs, and wildlife management.
“Each group has an important role in detecting ASF early to minimize these potentially devastating impacts. This collaboration has made CanSpotASF successful, and we hope to continue working together to grow the program over time,” said Dr. Snow. •
— By Harry Siemens
