Bridging gaps in risk communication and community engagement for African swine fever management in Asia and the Pacific

Domingo Caro III, Juven Niño Villacastin, Robert Wragg, Frank Pumipuntu, Roxanne Bunayog, Rizza Espenido, Michelle Balbin, Aleli Marasigan, Janice Garcia, Flordeliz Samonte, Vijay Raika Monger, Sangay Rinchen, Sarah Jayme and Yooni Oh

Bridging gaps in risk communication and community engagement for African swine fever management in Asia and the Pacific

Autores

Domingo Caro III, Juven Niño Villacastin, Robert Wragg, Frank Pumipuntu, Roxanne Bunayog, Rizza Espenido, Michelle Balbin, Aleli Marasigan, Janice Garcia, Flordeliz Samonte, Vijay Raika Monger, Sangay Rinchen, Sarah Jayme and Yooni Oh

Editor

FAO ;

Descripción

African swine fever is a highly fatal disease affecting pigs, which first emerged in China in August 2018. By October 2024, it had spread to over 20 countries in Asia and the Pacific, causing significant losses in both domestic and wild pig populations and threatening livelihoods and food security in the region. This poster summarizes findings from FAO-supported risk communication and community engagement efforts in Bhutan and the Philippines. These efforts include Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices surveys and consultative workshops aimed at identifying barriers, such as misconceptions about the disease’s non-zoonotic nature and its environmental persistence, that hinder effective biosecurity.It illustrates how localized interventions—such as training "biosecurity champions," incorporating WhatsApp and radio messaging, and conducting participatory community forums—can help restore farmer trust and improve the timely reporting of suspected cases. In alignment with FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–31, this poster contributes to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems under the Four Betters. It also supports Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 10 by protecting rural incomes and enhancing food security.Targeted at researchers, field epidemiologists, and policymakers, the poster offers a replicable, multidisciplinary model that strengthens outbreak response, fosters cross-sectoral partnerships, and enhances FAO’s visibility as a leader in integrating social science into animal health interventions.