According to the report, since late September, pig mortalities have increased in North Sumatra and neighbouring provinces. FAO is liaising with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services to put in motion biosecurity and control regulations. The FAO team is drafting recommendations on African swine fever control, appropriate to conditions in Indonesia.

FAO has supplied the following general recommendations for affected countries:

• Animal disease containment in its broadest sense should be prioritised within the highest levels of governments.
• Preparedness (eg, contingency planning, standard operating procedures - SOPs, secured financial support) for improved early warning, detection and notification, early reaction, and coordination needs to be in place and reviewed periodically in relation to changing disease situation.
• Application of strict biosecurity measures specific to the different swine producing sectors including frequent cleaning and disinfection of farms, transport vehicles, and improved husbandry practices and production systems.
• Strengthening surveillance and monitoring of transport of live pigs as well as pork products.
• Good communication and coordination with swine producing commercial sector and swine farmers are essential to strengthen cooperation in ASF prevention, detection, and control. Awareness and training of all stakeholders, from veterinarians to farmers, intermediaries and other value chain actors is needed.
• Communication to public is to be in place to avoid the rumours leading to food safety perceptions and consumption disruption.
• Farm registries, animal identification and censuses are essential to enable animal health interventions.
• Prohibition of swill feeding where feasible; highly regulated where not.
• Strengthening proper disposal of food waste (food services, airports, seaports), which may contain uncooked pork products.
• Outbreak control strategies must be in place. The strategies need to be developed in consultation with the private sector (pig producers and allied industries, such as transport, feed operators) for improved disease management options and compliance.