February 16, 2022

USDA monitoring African swine fever detected in the Dominican Republic and Haiti

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said it is monitoring the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak detected in the Dominican Republic and Haiti as it could have a devastating impact on US pork producers if the disease were to spread to the US Midwest, Iowa Public Radio reported.

Jack Shere from APHIS said the US will confiscate and incinerate any pork-related products that come from Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Shere said the country has strengthened border protections and prohibited the import of pork from the Caribbean countries. The US is also monitoring pork meat plants in Puerto Rico for ASF.

-      Iowa Public Radio