Since January 2009, a teschovirus PTV-1 serotype, identified by Plumb island laboratory, is circulating in Haiti and is causing important losses to Haiti pig producers. The virus is responsible for acute encephalomyelitis in pigs with an infectivity of 30-40% and a lethality of 40-50% according to field observations. Surviving animals often remain paralysed.
The disease is widespread and has reached in the "Centre" department the border with Dominican Republic (DR), threatening the DR as well as other countries of the region. The contamination of pigs occurs by ingestion or inhalation of products contaminated by faeces, urine or oral secretions of infected animals, the virus being very resistant in the environment.
DR already reinforced surveillance at borders and a workshop is organized the second week of August to sensitize field agents in charge of Classical Swine Fever to this new threat, with support from Haitian Veterinary officers.

For more information, see the FAOnotes and recommendations, the mission report of the CMC-AH (FAO Crisis Management Centre - Animal Health) and the CFSPH technical card.