African Swine Fever (ASF)

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ASF webinars from IDALS-CFSPH/IPPA and USDA set for September

The Iowa Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response webinar series continues with two sessions this month. "Iowa Perspective: ASF in Action" on Sept. 10 from 3-4 p.m. Central time and "Next Steps in Iowa: ASF in Action" on Sept. 17 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Central time apply specifically to Iowa activities and are available at no charge with registration required for connection details. Choose your desired individual session registration links https://iowaagriculture.gov/foreign-animal-disease-webinars
These two Iowa-based webinars will bookend the USDA-APHIS African Swine Fever Action Week webinars set for Sept. 13-17. Check out the topics, dates and times, and register for each session separately on the ASF Action Week web page.

(7-28-21) African Swine Fever has been confirmed in the Dominican Republic.

The USDA announced the confirmation through its Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, through an existing cooperative surveillance program. Currently pork and pork products from the Dominican Republic are prohibited entry to the U.S. due to existing classical swine fever restrictions. Read the official USDA statement and plans to keep the disease from entering the U.S.

Also, see these resources.

• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ASF page
• Swine Health Information Center summary of this outbreak. (pdf)

 

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African swine fever virus (ASF) is a serious, highly resistant, viral disease. Since August 2018, ASF has been rapidly spreading throughout China and Asia. U.S. swine industry organizations are working continuously on prevention and response to help keep ASF out of U.S. pig farms. ASF cannot be transmitted to humans, so it is not a public health or food safety concern. However, it can spread rapidly in pig populations by direct or indirect contact, and there is currently no vaccine or treatment. That’s why it is essential for the U.S. swine industry to be well informed and well prepared should an ASF outbreak ever reach the United States.

Foreign Animal Disease Preparation Guide

Check out our FAD Preparation Guide here. We've put together a compilation of information, steps to take on your farm, and resources to help you get started in preparing and protecting your farm from FADs. Learn what might happen if an FAD is diagnosed in the U.S., how you can prepare with traceability, disease monitoring, biosecurity, and contingency planning, and find a collection of helpful resources related to African Swine Fever and FADs.

Where is ASF?

Eleven countries in Asia have now confirmed outbreaks of ASF. Most recently in Indonesia.

Map of ASF outbreaks in Asia Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States.

Map of ASF outbreaks in South Korea. Right click on the map legend to translate to English. Source: pigpeople.net

Critical information for producers

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• African Swine Fever and U.S. preparedness. Presentation by ISU Extension Veterinarian Dr. Chris Rademacher at 2019 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences.
• New Kansas State University research demonstrates the infectious dose for African Swine Fever is extremely small for both feed and water.
  Read the report on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
  
• African Swine Fever Overview
  In this short (under 7 min.) video, ISU Extension Veterinarian Dr. Chris Rademacher gives an overview of the current status of African Swine Fever and what U.S. producers need to be aware of.
  
  
• African Swine Fever Roundtable: Industry structure, culture, wild boars team up to intensify ASF threat in China
  Roundtable discussion by Iowa State extension swine veterinarian Dr. Chris Rademacher, and Carthage Veteriary Clinic colleagues Dr. Clayton Johnson and Dr. Neal Benjamin, provided by Pig Health Today and sponsored by Zoetis. Topics are ASF reporting in China, types of feed used in China hog operations, protecting the U.S. swine herd, and the importance of learning from the past to plan for future safety concerns. Print and audio versions available.
• How to recognize ASF on your farm
  Sudden deaths with few lesions could be the first sign of an infection in a group of pigs. Other symptoms include fever, anorexia, lethargy, weakness, and recumbancy. Redness and blotching of the skin may also be seen, especially on ears, tail, legs, and ham. Bloody diarrhea may occur, as well as abortions in pregnant sows. For more detailed clinical signs and postmortem lesions, see the ASF Technical Fact Sheet from the Center for Food Security and Public Health.
• What to do if you suspect ASF is present
  If you suspect your herd may be infected with ASF, contact your veterinarian immediately. If your veterinarian determines your farm is a suspect case, your veterinarian should report the case to a State Animal Health Official. For more details, see the USDA  ASF Disease Response Strategy.
• Frequently asked questions on ASF in feed
  While feed and ingredients are not the most likely sources of introduction and transmission, they are a documented vector for disease such as ASF. This FAQ fact sheet from Kansas State University has information on ingredients, transmission, feed analysis and possible mitigation.
• ASF fact sheet - Secure Pork Supply
  • English
  • Spanish
• National Pork Board – ASF: What Producers Need to Know
  Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) resources from the National Pork Board: FAD preparation checklist to help prepare your farm, hosting international visitors, traveling overseas, USDA response strategy, ASF fact sheets and more.
• Secure Pork Supply plan
  The SPS plan for continuity of business if ASF, CSF or FMD is found in U.S. livestock.
  
• African Swine Fever webinar from Iowa Pork Producers Association
  On September 24, 2018, IPPA hosted a webinar about the status of ASF in China, actions underway by the pork industry and State of Iowa, and practical on-farm preparedness tips. Speakers included Dr. Patrick Webb, Dr. Chris Rademacher, Dr. Liz Wagstrom, Dr. David Schmitt, Dr. Jeff Kaisand, and Jamee Eggers.

Additional ASF Resources

Click on the headings below to view more videos, articles, and fact sheets about ASF.