Latest News From Biosecurity

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.

Canadian wild pigs have been discovered in a Canadian national park for the first time, sounding alarms that these wild pigs will cause damage to sensitive ecosystems.

Manure is an important part of the pork industry's sustainability story. But experts remind pork producers to keep in mind that handling manure is a risky business. Keep these tips in mind to stay safe.

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.

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. 

Whether you’re talking about pigs or people, COVID-19 or porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome (PRRS), zinc keeps coming up in the conversation as tool to help fight these serious health challenges. 

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.

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. 

The Cherokee Nation is helping landowners tackle feral hog problems. A $150,000 grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs is helping to develop a new trapping program to fight the growing wild pig population in Oklahoma.

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 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.

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 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 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.

The 2021 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference wrapped up with speakers presenting on artificial intelligence, vaccine development, Proposition 12 and more. Here are some quotable moments from the day. 

Swine influenza is a formidable opponent in swine herds. At the Leman Conference, Gustavo Lopez-Moreno explained how indirect transmission and management practices can facilitate transmission of this virus.

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.

AgriTalk's Chip Flory and Pro Farmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer discuss the situation at the southern border with Haitians, the latest on the battle over the infrastructure bills and more.

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.

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

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. 

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

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 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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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'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.

Reports of African swine fever outbreaks around the world are picking up. Bulgarian authorities reported an ASF outbreak on a commercial farm with 13,000 pigs in the central village of Apriltsi.

Efforts to control the feral pig population in Oklahoma are ahead of last year, USDA reports.  ​​​​​​​

Evolving strains of porcine circovirus (PCV) mean careful monitoring and updating management strategies are key to controlling disease associated with the virus, said Clayton Johnson, DVM.

By creating accurate case definitions and sampling protocols, veterinarians are more likely to successfully detect pathogens and identify treatment options for enteric disease control, said Eric Burrough, DVM.

In the science of biology, prevention is your best measure against disease.

While the U.S. remains free of African swine fever, the recent announcement of ASF in the Dominican Republic underscores the importance of continued detection and biosecurity efforts to protect swine in this country. 

Pork producers can rest assured that U.S. Customs and Border Protection ag inspectors have been and are continuing to focus “all hands on deck” to protect U.S. borders from foreign animal diseases. Here's why.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus can be introduced to pigs through the importation of contaminated feed products, confirms a new study performed by researchers from USDA ‘s Agricultural Research Service at Plum Island.