October 24, 2019

 

US swine industry prepares for possible African swine fever outbreak

 

A four-day simulation exercise by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) tested 14 top pork producing states' readiness for an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak, reported Illinois Public Media.

 

Emergency response plans are being tested and improved in the event an ASF outbreak actually happens. 

 

Currently, a state that identified ASF must send a sample to the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory located on Plum Island, off New York state. Solutions are being discussed on how to securely deliver the sample to the laboratory as quickly as possible, especially if an infected state is far away.

 

Once ASF has been confirmed, the government will announce a stop movement order. No swine, swine feed and swine manure are allowed to cross between states. Each state must come up with their own enforcement plans in relation to the stop movement order.

 

While ASF has not been detected in the western hemisphere, it could arrive via air or sea from infected nations.

 

Jim Roth, veterinary medicine professor at Iowa State University participated in the simulation from USDA's incident headquarters in Maryland, and part of the team drawing up the Secure Pork Supply Plan – how the US will continue nationwide pork production after positive ASF confirmation in the country.

 

He said ASF will not get into the US through land borders unless it enters another country first. The concern is ASF-positive countries, which are growing in number.

 

Kyoung-Jin Yoon, veterinary pathologist at Iowa State University said the recent efforts to curb ASF in South Korea is similar to the preparations being conducted in the United States.

 

He said South Korean producers were trained to look out for symptoms that may not appear before ASF entered the country. Clinical signs of ASF may not always be there.

 

Roth said US producers should immediately contact a veterinarian should they detect any symptoms.

 

Roth and Yoon said should ASF enter the US, global supply of swine could become scarce. Also, consumers may be afraid of consuming pork, resulting in a surplus of pork in the US.

 

The threat of ASF has brought strong precautions. Swine shows and events have either been cancelled or modified. Garbage feeding has been banned in Oklahoma, the 23rd US state to do so. The USDA is also monitoring contraband salami at US airports.

  

-   Illinois Public Media