A devastating disease that decimated China’s pig population has been detected in swine samples from the Dominican Republic.
USDA’s Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed cases of African swine fever (ASF) through testing results as part of an ongoing cooperative surveillance program.
Recent reports point to a resurgence of the disease in China, which caused losses estimated to be in the millions for the country’s hog herd, the largest in the world.
Outbreaks in China in 2018 and 2019 killed roughly half of their pig population.
There currently is no vaccine or treatment, and the mortality rate of the virus is near 100% for the pigs that become infected.
While ASF is not a threat to human health or a food safety issue, word of the positive tests is beyond alarming for U.S. pork producers.
“This is too close to home,” said Ernie Birchmeier, Michigan Farm Bureau livestock and dairy specialist.
“It is imperative that USDA and our state animal health partners work diligently to keep African swine fever out of the United States. This is a very highly contagious disease that can be devastating to our nations pork producers.”
USDA said it’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has safeguards in place to prevent ASF from entering the United States.
Pork and pork products are already prohibited from entering the U.S. because of restrictions in place over classical swine fever.
“With these cases being the first instances of African swine fever in the Western Hemisphere since the 1980s, it underscores the need for awareness, biosecurity and diligence,” said Nora Wineland, DVM, State Veterinarian and Division Director for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Animal Industry Division.
“While practicing good biosecurity is always crucial in preventing any animal disease from developing and spreading, enhancing these practices and increasing one’s diligence in identifying sick pigs or increased mortalities is especially vital at this time. Producers can even reach out to MDARD about enrolling in the Rapid Access Biosecurity (RAB) app as another way to improve their approach to biosecurity.”
USDA is offering continued testing support and is working with the Dominican Republic on additional mitigation measures. Officials will also offer similar help to Haiti, which borders the Dominican Republic and is at high risk for ASF detections.
