ABIDJAN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Monday handed over a batch of equipment to the Ivorian government to help combat African swine fever, authorities said.
The equipment was presented by FAO Representative in Cote d'Ivoire Joseph Nyemah to Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources Sidi Tiemoko Toure during a ceremony held in Abidjan.
According to the FAO, the equipment is intended to enhance the response capacity of veterinary services, particularly in detection, movement control and awareness-raising.
It includes protective gear, diagnostic equipment and tools for field operations. The initiative is part of a technical cooperation project aimed at containing the spread of the disease.
Since its emergence in Cote d'Ivoire in 1996, African swine fever has gone through several waves of outbreaks. The most recent, in April 2024, affected 12 localities, leading to the culling of nearly 108,000 pigs. ■