Latest News From Biosecurity

Hong Kong authorities ordered the culling of all 3,000 pigs in a herd after the African swine fever virus was discovered to be spreading for the first time in one of the city's farms.

FADs are a constant threat to the livestock industry. The country is more tuned in to this struggle than ever before with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. National Pork Board's Dave Pyburn and NCBA's Ethan Lane discuss why.

As PRRS viruses continue to evolve, producers are often faced with a difficult decision regarding the sow farm’s long-term PRRS status.

The COVID-19 pandemic caught our world by surprise. That’s one reason why the Swine Health Information Center is focused on preventing or preparing for emerging diseases. No one wants to be surprised like that again.

Chinese scientists have found a natural mutation in the African swine fever virus they say could be less deadly than the strain that ravaged the world's largest pig herd in 2018 and 2019.

A veterinarian weighs in on filtration systems and shares how air filtration can reduce outbreaks of disease like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the country anything, it’s that there is a tremendous amount of synergy between the circumstances of a pandemic involving humans and those involving animals. 

Markets for pork produced without antibiotics continue to grow. But this method of production is not for every farm, cautions Michael Pierdon, VMD, veterinarian with Four Star Veterinary Service.

When Mike Paustian took over the reins as Iowa Pork Producers Association president a year ago, he thought he knew the key issues the industry would be facing. But as he says, that all got “chucked out the window."

COVID-19 vaccine development is progressing at an unprecedented pace. A new vaccine candidate has produced a strong antibody response in mice and pigs that could be vital to further development of COVID-19 vaccines.

A new form of African swine fever identified in Chinese pig farms is most likely caused by illicit vaccines, industry insiders say, a fresh blow to the world's largest pork producer.

Wild pig populations in Canada continue to expand rapidly and are completely out of control in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. A new tool may help control this invasive species. Here's why you should take note.

The three main charges of the Swine Health Information Center haven’t changed throughout the past five years, but the stakes are getting higher as foreign animal disease threats increase pressure on the industry. 

Porcine astrovirus type 3 has been causing central nervous system disease for at least a decade. Experts agree it’s difficult to diagnose and manage. Unfortunately, there’s not a playbook for this devastating virus.

A new $11.65-million investment by the USDA will fund 14 projects to help farmers and private landowners trap and control feral swine.

An arriving passenger was ‘sniffed’ out by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection K-9 at Newark Liberty International Airport, who was trying to import 88 pounds of homemade pork sausages into the U.S.

A recent change in regulatory status may speed up commercial work on African swine fever (ASF) vaccine candidates, said Douglas Gladue, a USDA ARS microbiologist at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center.

African swine fever (ASF) numbers continue to climb in wild boar in Germany. The latest discovery in a wild boar is suspected in a new region in the country.

Invasive species councils in Montana and Washington are serious about preventing Canadian feral pigs from crossing into the western United States. 

The contagious African swine fever (ASF) virus has been reported in Manipur, India.

The swine industry is no stranger to dealing with disease. As human doctors battled COVID-19, the pork industry didn’t let up on its fight against diseases that threaten pigs. Here’s a look back. 

From feral swine damage prevention to foot-and-mouth disease vaccine purchases, USDA APHIS has been focused on critical work for animal agriculture amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are five noteworthy achievements.

Cara Haden, associate swine veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, offers three key questions to ask yourself as you consider the role of antibiotics in your operation in 2021.

South Korea authorities are building more fences to raise its guard against the deadly African swine fever virus. Since October 2018, 883 cases of ASF have been discovered in wild boars in border areas.

As African swine fever rages in Vietnam, the U.S. pork industry, through a $1.7 million USDA FAS grant, is studying the virus in real time as the disease breaks on farms across Vietnam. Here's an update on the latest.

It doesn’t matter if your employees present clinical signs or if they feel “fine,” if they test positive for COVID-19, they need to leave the farm and self-isolate. Here are 4 steps to prevent future transmission.

As COVID-19 continues to run its course, farms need to not only work on implementing prevention practices, but also prepare for how to respond if one or multiple employees were to test positive for COVID-19.

An RNA genetic sequencing method studied by researchers at the University of Minnesota finds that rapid, unbiased pathogen detection can be achieved at the species and strain level.

As the dust settles on a difficult 2020, the National Pork Producers Council is gearing up for a busy 2021. A new administration and congressional turnover means educating policymakers about pork producer priorities. 

Behind the walls of a hulking industrial compound in rural China, top pig producer Muyuan Foods is trying to raise more hogs on a single site than any company in the world - a risky investment with deadly ASF lingering.

Pigs will no longer be allowed to fly inside the cabin on U.S. airlines as emotional support animals under a new rule from the Department of Transportation. Neither will peacocks or alligators or monkeys.

Multi-disciplinary collaboration by academia, industry partners and the veterinary community is improving the diagnostics for and management of Streptococcus suis, a key endemic bacterial pathogen of pigs.

Officials have confirmed another 42 cases of ASF in wild boar in eastern Germany, the state government of Brandenburg said, as an outbreak of the disease that has halted German pork exports to Asia persists.

The demonstration video is part of an effort to help producers prepare for a foreign animal disease outbreak.

From increasing practical livestock biosecurity measures to advancing rapid depopulation and disposal abilities during animal disease outbreaks, Farm Bill funding will support endeavors to protect animal health.

How diverse are influenza A viruses circulating in U.S. swine herds? Tavis Anderson, PhD, says there's a great deal of diversity within the virus. His team is studying the factors driving this diversity.

No matter how many times you think you know all the diseases, new diseases pop up and remind you, ‘Oh, there’s stuff out there you’ve never seen before,’ says Daniel Gascho, DVM.

Is it possible to determine where high-risk feed products are coming into the U.S. from ASF-positive countries? Scott Dee and Gilbert Patterson weigh in on a new study that could help the industry mitigate risk.

South Dakota State University researchers will explore the PPV2 infection plays in important diseases such as pneumonia, immune deficiency, reproductive failure and lameness, all causes of lost productivity.

The race to find a vaccine for African swine fever (ASF) continues across the globe. Vietnam’s minister of agriculture says Vietnam might have a vaccine as early as 2021 following optimistic small-scale test results.

Biosecurity procedures are essential for protecting domestic swine herds from harmful disease agents, including viruses.

The National Pork Board launches a new digital platform to help protect the swine industry with real-time capability.

By nature, biosecurity isn’t easy. And there’s a cost, too. Jordan Gebhardt, DVM, assistant professor at Kansas State University, explains why biosecurity is a necessary investment for a successful feed program.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Organization for Animal Health have united in a joint initiative to keep African swine fever at bay. Here's what they have in store.

Maintaining a UVC germicidal chamber is critical to ensuring the chamber does its job to keep germs and disease out of your farm. Here are five quick tips to keep your chamber in proper working order.

Putting biosecurity protocols in place can help reduce the risk of disease being transferred to not only livestock, but to humans as well.

UVC germicidal chambers can be a great way to reduce the microbial load on surface items going into a pig farm, thereby reducing disease risks. Here are six things you need to know about UVC chambers.

More farms are using ultraviolet light to exclude pathogens from being introduced into a herd. A new report examines best practices and offers tips for producers.

Wild pigs are wreaking havoc and causing damage to the Coyote Creek Golf Course in San Jose, Calif.

The most recent discoveries of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boars in Germany bring the total number of confirmed cases to over 100. Rabobank's latest report sheds insight on what's ahead for Germany's pork market.