WORKSHOP ON AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF) DETECTION AND RESPONSE

Serbithang, 25 – 28 December 2023:

The National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH) under the Department of Livestock (DoL) is currently conducting a 4-day workshop from 25 – 28 December 2023 at Serbithang to enhance the capacity of field officials to detect and respond to African swine fever outbreaks in future.

Attended by 29 participants, including resource persons, this workshop brings together laboratory technicians from various agencies, such as NCAH, the National Veterinary Hospital, the Regional Livestock Development Centre, Regional Veterinary Hospital & Epidemiology Centres, Satellite Veterinary Laboratory, Dzongkhag Veterinary Hospitals, and the National Nucleus Piggery Breeding Centre, under the Department of Livestock. Additionally, representatives from the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority, Ministry of Health, and Nature Conservation Division, Department of Forests and Park Services, are participating in this training workshop.

The workshop primarily aims to enhance the capabilities of field officials in different facets of ASF detection, encompassing clinical, post-mortem, and laboratory diagnosis. Crucial topics covered include sample collection, labelling, packaging, transportation, referral in the Laboratory Information Management System, rapid testing, and confirmation through Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the workshop delves into essential theory and practical exercises such as farm biosecurity, proper donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), post-mortem procedures, and insights into other important pig diseases.

This workshop represents a pivotal component of the Emergency Technical Cooperation Programme (eTCP) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations for the prevention and control of ASF in Bhutan.

The workshop was financed through the fund approved for the FAO eTCP, “Emergency technical assistance to minimize risks and impacts of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Bhutan”.

 

For further information, please contact the following:

NCAH, Serbithang

Email – ncah@moal.gov.bt

Website – www.ncah.gov.bt

 

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