The Dominican Republic has announced biosecurity checks and enhanced sanitation protocols on vehicles and individuals crossing provincial borders where African swine fever has been detected. Thus far, the disease has been detected in 14 provinces: Espaillat, Monte Plata, San Pedro de Macorís, Sánchez Ramírez, La Vega, Santiago, Hermanas Mirabal, Montecristi, Dajabón, Santiago Rodríguez, San Juan, the National District, Duarte and Elías Piña.

In a press release, the Agriculture Ministry reported that the Official Commission for the Control and Eradication of Outbreaks of African Swine Fever ordered the border reinforcements and created a contingency plan to contain the disease and prevent it from spreading to farms.

Many shoppers in the Dominican Republic are forgoing pork purchases and opting for poultry after African swine fever emerged. Though the deadly pig disease poses no threat to humans, many say they are avoiding pig meat, citing food safety fears.