Latest News From African Swine Fever

Quantitative Risk Assessment Models U.S. Risk of ASF Introduction in Feed
Quantitative Risk Assessment Models U.S. Risk of ASF Introduction in Feed

Researchers developed a quantitative risk assessment model to estimate the probability that one or more corn or soybean meal ocean vessels contaminated with ASF virus would be imported into the U.S. annually.

What Do International Pork Customers Really Want?
What Do International Pork Customers Really Want?

A new study provides critical insights on how U.S. pork can differentiate itself in the global export market. What are international customers really looking for?

Alexis Main
Behind Barn Doors: A Look Into Swine Biosecurity

Alexis Main, graduate student at Oklahoma State University and 2021 College Aggies Online participant, clears up myths about what goes on behind closed doors on a pig farm and lessons she's learned about biosecurity.

China Reports African Swine Fever Outbreak on Hainan Island, OIE Says
China Reports African Swine Fever Outbreak on Hainan Island, OIE Says

China reported an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) at a pig farm on Hainan island in the southern part of the country, the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health said.

John Dillard: The Potential Time Bomb of African Swine Fever
John Dillard: The Potential Time Bomb of African Swine Fever

African swine fever (ASF) is a nasty bug and it’s getting closer to the U.S. The highly contagious viral infection doesn’t infect humans, but it is 100% fatal to hogs. 

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Bulgaria Reports African Swine Fever Outbreak at Industrial Farm

Bulgarian veterinary authorities on Monday reported a new outbreak of African swine fever at an industrial farm that has a total of 180 pigs in the southern village of Radinovo.

Expert Demystifies New African Swine Fever Virus in China
Expert Demystifies New African Swine Fever Virus in China

A newly discovered low virulent, genotype 1, African swine fever (ASF) virus is causing chronic infections in China's pig herd, says ASF expert Dan Rock at the University of Illinois. 

Jennifer Shike
Prepare and Prevent: It’s Going to Take Us All

As we get ready to close out a roller coaster of a year, there are a few pieces of advice I’ve recently heard I wanted to pass on as we launch into a new year of foreign animal disease preparedness and prevention.

New Veterinary Toxicology Training Program Created at K-State
New Veterinary Toxicology Training Program Created at K-State

The goal of the program is to create impactful and innovative outreach tools. This will better enable livestock veterinarians to recognize and address toxicology problems in food animal species.

Russia's Miratorg Announces African Swine Fever Outbreak
Russia's Miratorg Announces African Swine Fever Outbreak

Russia has reported a second outbreak of African swine fever at a site of the country's largest pork producer, Miratorg. The outbreak occurred in the Belgorod region in central Russia, Reuters reported.

Canada Increases Efforts to Keep African Swine Fever Out
Canada Increases Efforts to Keep African Swine Fever Out

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing nearly $3 million in new initiatives to enhance biosecurity and support the provincial pork sector’s African swine fever prevention and emergency preparedness effort.

Telemedicine and African Swine Fever: 5 Reasons to Take a Closer Look
Telemedicine and African Swine Fever: 5 Reasons to Take a Closer Look

The pandemic and the shortage of food animal veterinarians have catapulted the concept of telemedicine forward. As ASF inches closer to the U.S., experts say telemedicine could become even more useful. Here's why.

Farmers Need More Space for Crops to Meet Mounting Demand
Farmers Need More Space for Crops to Meet Mounting Demand

Farmers need more space to grow crops to meet mounting demand for food and renewable fuel at a time of slowing growth in yields, consultancy AgResource said on Tuesday.

Don’t Go in Unprepared: Packing Industry Responds to ASF Tabletop Exercise
Don’t Go in Unprepared: Packing Industry Responds to ASF Tabletop Exercise

Preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak is like running a race, said Barb Masters of Tyson Foods. You just can’t go into an outbreak and expect to be ready without preparation.

Attila Farkas - Carthage Veterinary System Ltd.
Develop and Refine ASF Surveillance Protocols

Despite all the efforts to develop a commercial ASF vaccine, there is no vaccine or treatment commercially available yet to prevent or treat this virus. That’s why surveillance is so important, says Attila Farkas, DVM.

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Fight Against African Swine Fever Top of Mind for House Ag Committee

From African swine fever surveillance and vaccine candidates to genetic editing, the House Agriculture Committee hearing was filled with discussion on the fight against economically devastating livestock diseases.

International Travelers Urged to Report Lack of Secondary Screening at Airports
International Travelers Urged to Report Lack of Secondary Screening at Airports

Reports of international travelers not being diverted to CBP agricultural specialists for secondary screening after reporting that they had animal contact at ASF and FMD endemic destinations is raising red flags. 

New ASF Vaccine Candidate Offers Promise to Global Pork Industry
New ASF Vaccine Candidate Offers Promise to Global Pork Industry

For the past 10 years, USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists have been working on a vaccine for African swine fever, the deadly virus of pigs. Here's what the scientists have to say about what's ahead.

BREAKING: New Vaccine Candidate Blocks Spread of African Swine Fever Virus
BREAKING: New Vaccine Candidate Blocks Spread of African Swine Fever Virus

A new African swine fever vaccine candidate has been shown to prevent and effectively protect both European and Asian bred swine against the current circulating Asian strain of the virus. 

USDA Commits $500 Million for ASF Prevention: “We’re Not Immune,” Vilsack Says
USDA Commits $500 Million for ASF Prevention: “We’re Not Immune,” Vilsack Says

To help prevent the spread of ASF to the U.S., USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the dedication of $500 million to expand efforts to coordinate monitoring, surveillance, prevention, quarantine and eradication activities.

Russia Reports African Swine Fever Outbreak
Russia Reports African Swine Fever Outbreak

Russia has reported an outbreak of African swine fever at a site of the country's largest pork producer, Miratorg. The outbreak occurred in the Belgorod region in central Russia.

Manage ASF Risk: Where Are Your Feed Ingredients Sourced?
Manage ASF Risk: Where Are Your Feed Ingredients Sourced?

The potential for feed ingredients to serve as a vehicle for African swine fever virus introduction to the U.S. remains a significant concern, said Gil Patterson, VMD, chief medical officer at vet tech company, VetNOW.

Germany Plans Wild Boar-Free Zone to Combat ASF, Asks Poland to Help
Germany Plans Wild Boar-Free Zone to Combat ASF, Asks Poland to Help

Germany plans a wild boar-free zone along the Polish border to counter African swine fever and called on Poland to help more in countering the pig disease.

USDA Commits to Help Haiti, Dominican Republic Fight African Swine Fever
USDA Commits to Help Haiti, Dominican Republic Fight African Swine Fever

USDA officials said while unfortunate, the detection of African swine fever (ASF) in Haiti was not unexpected due to recent cases of ASF in the Dominican Republic.

Haiti Reports Outbreak of African Swine Fever
Haiti Reports Outbreak of African Swine Fever

The World Organization for Animal Health confirmed an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) on the island of Haiti on Sept. 20. This is the first case of ASF virus reported in Haiti since 1984.

Swine Industry Applauds USDA Action on Dog Importation Restrictions
Swine Industry Applauds USDA Action on Dog Importation Restrictions

Pork industry groups applaud USDA's effort to establish additional requirements for dogs imported into the U.S. for resale from countries where ASF exists.

African Swine Fever Research Project in Vietnam Examines ELISAs
African Swine Fever Research Project in Vietnam Examines ELISAs

Research continues in Vietnam on ELISA tests for African swine fever, made possible by a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service grant.

Protect U.S. Pig Farmers, Fund ASF Prevention Efforts
Protect U.S. Pig Farmers, Fund ASF Prevention Efforts

Democratic lawmakers urge House leadership for $75 million in funding for USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to prevent and prepare for a possible African swine fever outbreak in the U.S. swine herd. 

Put Guards in Place to Defend Your Farm
Put Guards in Place to Defend Your Farm

Biosecurity on the farm is like defending a fortress, explained Clayton Johnson, DVM, with Carthage Veterinary Service, during USDA’s African Swine Fever Action Week.

Second Case of African Swine Fever Confirmed in Wild Boar in East Germany
Second Case of African Swine Fever Confirmed in Wild Boar in East Germany

A second case of African swine fever has been confirmed in a wild boar in the Uckermark region in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, Reuters reports.

Germany Needs New Pig Farming Strategy to Counter Low Prices
Germany Needs New Pig Farming Strategy to Counter Low Prices

Germany needs to develop a new strategy for the pig farming industry to help farmers who are facing ruinously low prices, German agriculture minister Julia Kloeckner said.

5 Pork Industry Experts Weigh in on the Threat of ASF
5 Pork Industry Experts Weigh in on the Threat of ASF

When it comes time to deliver hard or important news, it’s best-done face to face. We asked five leading experts in the industry what they would tell a producer if they had a chance to sit down with them face to face.

Exploding Pork Demand and Exports Paint Optimistic Price Picture, ASF Threat Remains Biggest Risk
Exploding Pork Demand and Exports Paint Optimistic Price Picture, ASF Threat Remains Biggest Risk

More than a month after ASF was detected in the Western Hemisphere, pork producers are still on edge about the possibility it will enter the U.S., as economists say it would shutter exports almost overnight.

Study Affirms U.S. Pork Industry’s Efforts to Keep ASF Out
Study Affirms U.S. Pork Industry’s Efforts to Keep ASF Out

The time you are most at risk for something is when you don't know it's a risk, says Patrick Webb, National Pork Board acting chief veterinarian. That's why a new study to identify biosecurity gaps is causing a stir.

Vilsack Warns U.S. to Stay Vigilant About African Swine Fever
Vilsack Warns U.S. to Stay Vigilant About African Swine Fever

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urges the U.S. that it needs to be informed about the devastation African swine fever (ASF) can cause if it reaches the U.S. swine herd. Listen to his video message here.

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African Swine Fever, PRRS Among Hot Topics at 2021 Leman Conference

Organizers are excited to hold the 2021 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in-person as well as virtually, on Sept. 18-21 in St. Paul, Minn. The event includes a range of swine-health topics, including African swine fever.

CBP Ag Specialists Block Bologna at Border Crossing
CBP Ag Specialists Block Bologna at Border Crossing

A 20-year-old U.S. citizen driving a 2012 Honda Odyssey attempted to bring 320 pounds of pork bologna and 30 pounds of turkey ham through the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing on Aug. 26.

Liz Wagstrom - NPPC
Pork Industry Continues 3-Year Fight Against ASF

With ASF marching westward and now just 750 miles from Florida, the U.S. pork industry’s decision three years ago to pull out all the stops to prevent the introduction and spread into the U.S. seems prescient. 

Germany Faces Long-Term Battle Against African Swine Fever
Germany Faces Long-Term Battle Against African Swine Fever

Germany is facing a long-term battle to eradicate African swine fever carried into the east of the country by wild animals, state and federal authorities said on Wednesday.

Sundberg: Ramping Up African Swine Fever Preparedness and Prevention
Sundberg: Ramping Up African Swine Fever Preparedness and Prevention

Industry groups are ramping up preparedness and prevention protocols in an effort to keep African swine fever from impacting the U.S. swine herd.

ASF Vaccines: Is the Waiting Game Almost Over?
ASF Vaccines: Is the Waiting Game Almost Over?

Although there’s no licensed commercial vaccine for African swine fever available, experts say they are encouraged by the progress that’s been made in the last few years. Here's why.

Missouri’s Feral Hog Problem Turns a Corner
Missouri’s Feral Hog Problem Turns a Corner

Traps. Drones. Sharpshooters. Missouri officials are doing everything they can to control its feral hog population.

U.S. Seeks to Protect Pork Exports if African Swine Fever Virus Hits Territories
U.S. Seeks to Protect Pork Exports if African Swine Fever Virus Hits Territories

The United States said it is seeking to avoid disruptions to pork exports if the territories of Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands detect the fatal pig disease African swine fever.

USDA Prepares to Establish Foreign Animal Disease Protection Zone
USDA Prepares to Establish Foreign Animal Disease Protection Zone

USDA announced its intent to designate Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as a “protection zone,” a World Organization for Animal Health designation. Here's what that means for the U.S. pork industry.

Close All the Windows to Keep ASF Out
Close All the Windows to Keep ASF Out

When a storm is brewing on the horizon, you don’t wait until it strikes to close all the open windows. You figure out which windows are open and start closing them one by one until the house is secure. 

Jennifer Shike
It’s Time to Up Your Game

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Those words spoken by an ag instructor, inspired Rob Brenneman to chase after his dream to become a pig farmer even though he didn’t have a pig to his name when he started.

ASF in the Western Hemisphere: What’s Different 40 Years Later? 
ASF in the Western Hemisphere: What’s Different 40 Years Later? 

The global swine industry has changed dramatically in the past four decades. Experts say those changes will play an important role in our country's fight to keep African swine fever out of the U.S.

​​​​​​It's Time to ​Batten Down the Hatches, Pork Industry Experts Say
​​​​​​It's Time to ​Batten Down the Hatches, Pork Industry Experts Say

In the past 40 years, the swine industry has made incredible progress by coming together to fight foreign animal disease introduction from multiple angles. Paul Sundberg, DVM, says we can't stop now.

Dennis DiPietre and Lance Mulberry
It’s Unlikely the U.S. Will Escape ASF

While there are lots of reasons to believe ASF in the Dominican Republic is not a sure sign it will penetrate the U.S. industry, still, everyone has become focused on it and how slippery it is to contain.

USDA to Host Webinar Series on African Swine Fever in September
USDA to Host Webinar Series on African Swine Fever in September

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will host African Swine Fever Action Week on September 13 to 17 featuring daily webinars to tackle the topic of ASF from all angles. Here's how you can participate.