Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 3/20/19


USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is boosting the availability of educational resources as part of a continuing effort to prevent African Swine Fever (ASF) from entering the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agriculture Specialists last week seized about 1 million pounds of illegal products containing pork shipped from China in an effort to prevent the potential spread of ASF into the U.S. market. USDA already had bulked up border patrols at U.S. commercial ports, seaports and airports and now is taking additional steps the help domestic producers better understand the gravity of the potential issues with ASF as well as steps that can be taken to maintain the health of U.S. pigs nationwide. ASF does not harm humans, but is fatal to hogs. 

The latest initiatives include updated content on an ASF-centric APHIS website that includes infographics explaining ASF pathways, biosecurity, ASF symptoms and tips for travelers to contain any potential spread of ASF. Since August, ASF has spread to more than 26 provinces in China (as of February) and Vietnam, Taiwan and Mongolia also have reported cases of the incurable disease.

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