Ivory Coast imposes containment measures after African swine fever outbreak in Houphouékaha

Ivory Coast has declared a protection and surveillance zone around a pig farm in Houphouékaha following the confirmation of African swine fever, with sanitary measures including quarantine, culling, and market restrictions to prevent further spread.

Ivory Coast has moved to contain an outbreak of African swine fever after the virus was confirmed on a pig farm in Houphouékaha, in the Ferkessédougou sub-prefecture, authorities said in an order dated July 24.

The decree, issued on the recommendation of the regional director for animal and fisheries resources in Tchologo, Jean-Pierre Sory, establishes a three-kilometre protection zone around the infected holding and a further seven-kilometre surveillance zone. All pigs in the restricted area have been placed under sanitary quarantine, while the movement of live animals, pork, pork products, by-products and potentially contaminated equipment has been banned.

Regional officials said sanitary culling had already begun, alongside the secure destruction of carcasses, meat, litter and waste. An exact tally of animals destroyed was not yet available.

The laboratory confirmation followed samples taken on July 16 and analysed on July 22 at the central veterinary laboratory in Bingerville, which detected the virus genome. Authorities are also carrying out a full census of pig farms and animal holdings in the area.

To limit the risk of spread, the sale, transport, consumption and distribution of pigs and pig products from the infected zone have been prohibited, and local pig markets have been temporarily closed. African swine fever is a highly contagious disease that has continued to cause disruption in pig-producing countries across Africa, Europe and Asia.