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USDA says partnership is key for stopping ASF

Under Secretary Greg Ibach says USDA is stepping up surveillance to keep African Swine Fever from getting into the U.S.

“I think the most important thing that we’re doing from a USDA point of view is our coordination with the swine industry.”  Ibach says USDA has increased border security and is using beagles to keep the disease out of the U.S.

Mary Kelpinksi with the Michigan Pork Producers Association says farmers need to step up biosecurity efforts including sourcing feed from areas not infected.  “We still don’t know how exactly PEDv came into this country a few years back and there’s a lot of research out there showing that some of these viruses can survive in feed.”

African Swine Fever is not considered harmful to any animal species other than pigs and is not a threat to human health.