Guyana launches regional pilot to combat African Swine Fever, protect swine industry

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), in partnership with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), has officially launched the USDA-FAS/IICA Regional African Swine Fever (ASF) Surveillance Pilot in Guyana.

This landmark initiative aims to strengthen national and regional capacity to prevent and respond to outbreaks of African Swine Fever — a highly contagious disease threatening swine industries across the globe.
The three-day surveillance exercise, which brings together key stakeholders from Guyana’s swine industry and international partners, will assess and bolster the country’s readiness and response strategies against ASF. Participants include representatives from the Guyana Swine Association, the Guyana Food Safety Authority, the Civil Defence Commission, the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, and the GLDA, along with experts from IICA, USDA, and the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA).
Speaking at the launch on Monday at CARA Lodge hotel, GLDA CEO Dr Dwight Walrond, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, stressed the importance of early detection and coordinated response.
“This surveillance pilot is a model for disease management across the Caribbean. It strengthens our capacity to detect, respond to, and control African Swine Fever and other haemorrhagic swine diseases, safeguarding the livelihoods of our farmers and national food security,” Dr Walrond said.
African Swine Fever poses no risk to human health, but is devastating to both domestic and wild pig populations. Without a vaccine or cure, outbreaks can severely impact national economies, disrupt food systems, and threaten food security. The urgency is compounded by the re-emergence of ASF in the Caribbean in 2021, after a 40-year absence, with cases being reported in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole D. Theriot, has commended Guyana’s approach and reaffirmed the US Government’s continued support in working alongside Guyana and regional partners to mitigate transboundary animal diseases. She noted that this pilot initiative is a cornerstone in ensuring the resilience of agriculture in the Americas.
“It is my pleasure to be here for the kick-off of an important partnership between the United States and Guyana. African Swine Fever is a devastating disease, and we must work together to monitor and control its spread, and to protect the livelihoods of producers in both our countries. An outbreak, if not quickly detected and controlled, could result in pork production shortages, disruptions to trade, and far-reaching economic impacts,” Ambassador Theriot stated.
She emphasized that preventing ASF is critical to the survival and growth of the swine industry.
The USDA-funded initiative implemented by IICA extends beyond Guyana, targeting enhanced surveillance, diagnostics, biosecurity, and emergency preparedness throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and the Andean Region. It adopts a comprehensive “One Health” approach, integrating technical training, governance frameworks, and stakeholder collaboration.

Guyana’s vulnerability
Dr Walrond also highlighted Guyana’s vulnerability due to porous borders, increased migration, and potential bioterrorism threats.
“We are taking no chances. Our surveillance and response plans are backed by upgraded checkpoints, improved laboratory capacity, continuous staff training, and targeted stakeholder outreach,” he said.
He urged farmers and industry stakeholders to remain vigilant, report any suspicious signs, and implement recommended biosecurity measures.
In June 2024, Dr. Joel Dilchand, Regional Coordinator and Veterinary Officer for Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice), and Zenzie Goring, Laboratory Supervisor with responsibility for Serology at the GLDA Veterinary Services Laboratory, participated in an intensive African Swine Fever (ASF) Workshop for the Caribbean hosted at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. The training, funded by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), focused on enhancing regional technical capacity in ASF detection and response.