The Manager of the Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network says rule out testing for African Fever offers an added line of defence with a minimal risk of disrupting the day to day production of pork.
CanSpotASF, part of a suite of activities on African Swine Fever preparedness revolves around rule-out testing at laboratories approved to test for African Swine Fever. Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network Manager Dr. Jette Christensen says the one year pilot project represents enhanced surveillance.
Clip-Dr. Jette Christensen-Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network:
We've estimated that the number of eligible cases that we would select from is about 700 per year in Canada. We don't expect all 700 cases to be tested. It would be maybe half. We don't know yet.
We also know that the test the laboratory is using is very good test and, if all 700 samples were tested per year, we would expect one false positive case in 14 years. We don't know if that is the first case or the last case in those 14 years but there will be very few that will have a false positive.
If this false positive happens, what will happen to the producer is that there will be movement restrictions for 48 to 96 hours while CFIA is following up and confirming whether the case was positive or negative and then they will go back to normal.
Source : Farmscape