The Ministry of Agriculture has expanded its African Swine Fever (ASF) surveillance to Barbuda as part of ongoing efforts to protect Antigua and Barbuda’s pig farming industry from the deadly virus.
A team from the Veterinary and Livestock Division, led by Alexandria Dowdey, visited the sister island this week to collect blood samples from local pigs. Three Barbudan farmers participated in the exercise, voluntarily allowing samples to be taken from their herds as part of the regional pilot project.
The ASF pilot initiative is a collaboration between the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Ministry of Agriculture. It supports the government’s focus on food and nutrition security through disease prevention and livestock monitoring.
Fieldwork in Antigua has also been progressing steadily. Technicians recently visited four additional farms and collected 35 blood samples, bringing the team closer to its goal of 80 samples. All samples are scheduled to be shipped to Plum Island for specialized testing on November 7.
Officials say the testing is vital to confirm that Antigua and Barbuda remain free of ASF, which has been detected in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The highly contagious viral disease affects domestic and wild pigs and has an almost 100 percent mortality rate.
Although ASF poses no risk to humans, it represents a serious threat to regional food production and farmers’ livelihoods. By extending surveillance to Barbuda, veterinary officials aim to strengthen early detection and ensure the continued health of the nation’s livestock — a key component of Antigua and Barbuda’s food security strategy.
