CanSpotASF: Strengthening Canada’s ASF Early Detection Capabilities and Proof of Disease Freedom

CanSpotASF continues to serve as Canada’s national early detection program for African swine fever (ASF) surveillance and is an important component of national ASF preparedness planning. During the 2024/25 period, the program maintained robust surveillance through multiple pathways, including risk-based testing at approved animal health laboratories, abattoir condemnation sampling, and expanded to included invasive wild pig surveillance which enhances the CFIA’s regulatory passive ASF surveillance.

In 2024–25, 984 surveillance cases from across Canada, were tested and all cases were negative for ASF, reinforcing Canada’s ASF-free status and demonstrating this voluntary program’s enhanced surveillance capacity and increasing ASF awareness.

Key achievements in the 2024-25 fiscal year included the formal inclusion of invasive wild pig surveillance and the completion of an independent program evaluation, which further affirmed the value and relevance of CanSpotASF as a national surveillance program.

As noted by Dr. Maria Spinato, Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, “CanSpotASF has facilitated active involvement of veterinarians and pathologists in recognizing clinical scenarios that could resemble ASF and the program provides an active early warning system for ASF,” strengthening frontline awareness and diagnostic capacity.

Together, these efforts continue to support coordinated surveillance, early detection, and preparedness across Canada.

For more detailed information on key activities, outcomes, and progress from 2024–25, please read the 2024/25 CanSpotASF Annual Report.

Quarterly surveillance data reports are available through the newly redesigned CSHIN website.