Source: Julie Larson Bricher, MEATINGPLACE, 7/11/19


In an effort to better prepare the pork industry for a potential foreign animal disease outbreak in the United States, USDA plans to conduct a full-function exercise during the week of Sept. 23, the National Pork Board (NPB) reports.

The exercise will focus on a fictional outbreak of African swine fever and the subsequent response by state and federal agencies and pork industry stakeholders, NPB said in a recent newsletter. 

During the exercise, participants will validate and evaluate capabilities and will also respond to an exercise scenario with event updates in a realistic, real-time environment, NPB explained, citing USDA's Veterinary Services overview.

Veterinarian Dave Pyburn, senior vice president of the National Pork Board’s science and technology department, said every aspect of this type of exercise is done for a reason. 

“We’re trying to create a realistic scenario of a confirmed foreign animal disease in this country to see how each stakeholder reacts and to find the gaps that need more work," he said. "It’s about finding ways to improve protection of our nation’s swine herd.”

It is up to individual states as to whether they are interested in participating, a USDA APHIS public affairs specialist told Meatingplace in an email. Although a list of states that have joined the exercise is not available at this time, the top 14 pork producing states will most likely participate, she said.

To find out if your state is participating in the exercise, contact your state pork associationoffice or APHIS district office.

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