By Diane DeWitte, Swine Extension Educator
Originally printed in The LAND - August 23/August 30, 2019
A year ago, on August 3, 2018, the Chinese government reported an occurrence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in their country. At that time, many North American producers and industry-affiliated folks had no idea about ASF. The disease was covered in veterinary textbooks and materials defining emerging & exotic diseases, but very few had seen it or had any experience with it.
Today we know much more about it. From the National Pork Board, these are the plain facts about this disease the United States' swine herd has never faced:
National Pork Board and the National Pork Producers Council, along with key state Pork Producer Associations have led the charge to bolster US preparation for ASF. Collaborating with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), and the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), NPB organized coalition groups to coordinate efforts to prevent ASF entry into the US. These coalition groups target specific elements of an ASF outbreak response, including feed, trucking, mortality disposal, health protection, and more.
In addition, NPB has earmarked checkoff funds for African Swine Fever research, and provided to-the-minute updates to producers. Fact sheets, newsletters, country disease status information, and dedicated websites are some of the methods NPB implemented to educate producers.
Pork Checkoff (NPB) has a text alert service which is designed for a major pork industry crisis. This text alert service would notify individuals who have signed up for it, in the event of a major industry crisis. Text service participants would be able to get information right away and know where to turn for accurate information dealing with the crisis situation.
To join NPB’s text alert service, simply text PORKCRISIS to 97296. Participants will be asked to reply yes with “Y”, and then be sent a follow-up text requesting zip code. When the zip code is provided, text alerts can be targeted specifically to that area.
While the US does not have a wild boar population, the population of feral pigs in 35 states tops 7 million. Feral pigs cause an estimated $2 billion in damage to agricultural lands by rooting and wallowing, and they also pose a threat as potential carriers of disease. In the 2018 Farm Bill, the USDA allocated $75 million for feral swine eradication and control. This year nearly $34 million of it is earmarked for public and private partnerships to eliminate feral hogs in select areas of 10 southern states.
In May 2019, Chief Veterinary Officers from the three countries participated in an international ASF forum and presented a unified resolve to keep the continent free of ASF. Initial plans set the stage for:
At the UK’s national farm animal disease research facility, the Pirbright Institute in Pirbright, Surrey, England, investigators have identified specific ASF virus proteins. Working together with scientists at Arizona State University, the team is scrutinizing which particular ASF virus proteins have induced the best immune response in pigs, and will then work to incorporate them into vaccines that could be used on farms. This is just a first step in the potential development of a safe vaccine against ASF.
The plan contains a detailed strategy for dealing with African Swine Fever in Minnesota. A USDA-organized disaster simulation, the “ASF Functional Exercise” will be conducted simultaneously in 14 swine-production states in late September. This Exercise will test the ability of the swine industry to handle an ASF outbreak.
In 2015 Minnesota had the unfortunate distinction of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the state’s poultry flocks. Millions of birds perished or were euthanized. Producers and health officials who worked through the HPAI nightmare have provided a wealth of education of what worked and what did not work during that disastrous outbreak.
Pig farmers across the country understand the seriousness of the ASF threat. Collaboration between producers, health officials, packers and allied industry is the way that African Swine Fever will be conquered.
Judging from the speed of response to learn more and to harden our borders against ASF in this past year, imagine how much better prepared the United States will be at the end of Year Two.
*] United States Department of Agriculture Press Release No. 0072.19
Diane DeWitte is an Extension Swine Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension. Based in Mankato, she can be reached at stouf002@umn.edu.
Originally printed in The LAND - August 23/August 30, 2019
A year ago, on August 3, 2018, the Chinese government reported an occurrence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in their country. At that time, many North American producers and industry-affiliated folks had no idea about ASF. The disease was covered in veterinary textbooks and materials defining emerging & exotic diseases, but very few had seen it or had any experience with it.
Today we know much more about it. From the National Pork Board, these are the plain facts about this disease the United States' swine herd has never faced:
- The virus is not dangerous to humans, it only affects pigs (domestic and wild).
- It is hardy and can survive for long periods - dried, frozen and cured pork products are at high risk of carrying the virus.
- The virus can be spread through feeding pigs swill containing undercooked contaminated pork.
- Adhering to strict farm biosecurity measures will decrease the chances of the disease spreading or entering at all.
- Strict border control can help to reduce the chances of ASF being introduced into a country.
- There is currently no effective vaccine against the virus.
INDUSTRY ACTION THIS PAST YEAR
The United States swine population has never been exposed to African Swine Fever, and because of that, an ASF outbreak would be catastrophic; not only to our pig farmers and their herds, but to American trade with other countries. Currently the US exports about 27% of its pork production.National Pork Board and the National Pork Producers Council, along with key state Pork Producer Associations have led the charge to bolster US preparation for ASF. Collaborating with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), and the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), NPB organized coalition groups to coordinate efforts to prevent ASF entry into the US. These coalition groups target specific elements of an ASF outbreak response, including feed, trucking, mortality disposal, health protection, and more.
In addition, NPB has earmarked checkoff funds for African Swine Fever research, and provided to-the-minute updates to producers. Fact sheets, newsletters, country disease status information, and dedicated websites are some of the methods NPB implemented to educate producers.
Pork Checkoff (NPB) has a text alert service which is designed for a major pork industry crisis. This text alert service would notify individuals who have signed up for it, in the event of a major industry crisis. Text service participants would be able to get information right away and know where to turn for accurate information dealing with the crisis situation.
To join NPB’s text alert service, simply text PORKCRISIS to 97296. Participants will be asked to reply yes with “Y”, and then be sent a follow-up text requesting zip code. When the zip code is provided, text alerts can be targeted specifically to that area.
FEDERAL ACTION
In collaboration with the swine industry and animal health professionals, USDA has stepped up border protection. Since last August, USDA has established these additional protections:- Worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection(CBP) at ports of entry, paying particular attention to cargo, passengers, and products arriving from China and other ASF affected countries
- Increased detector dog teams, the Beagle Brigade, with U.S. CBP to sniff out illegal products at key U.S. commercial sea and airports
- Restricted imports of pork and pork products from affected countries*
While the US does not have a wild boar population, the population of feral pigs in 35 states tops 7 million. Feral pigs cause an estimated $2 billion in damage to agricultural lands by rooting and wallowing, and they also pose a threat as potential carriers of disease. In the 2018 Farm Bill, the USDA allocated $75 million for feral swine eradication and control. This year nearly $34 million of it is earmarked for public and private partnerships to eliminate feral hogs in select areas of 10 southern states.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Neither of our neighbors, Canada nor Mexico, has been exposed to African Swine Fever. In a collaborative effort to protect the entire North American swine population, all three countries have been working together to devise a plan to prevent the virus’ entry into our pigs.In May 2019, Chief Veterinary Officers from the three countries participated in an international ASF forum and presented a unified resolve to keep the continent free of ASF. Initial plans set the stage for:
- Promoting readiness to enable swift action in the case of an ASF outbreak
- Strengthening biosecurity measures to prevent ASF entry
- Developing useful communication strategies to keep international neighbors informed
- Creating trade agreements which will lessen the negative impact of an ASF outbreak
At the UK’s national farm animal disease research facility, the Pirbright Institute in Pirbright, Surrey, England, investigators have identified specific ASF virus proteins. Working together with scientists at Arizona State University, the team is scrutinizing which particular ASF virus proteins have induced the best immune response in pigs, and will then work to incorporate them into vaccines that could be used on farms. This is just a first step in the potential development of a safe vaccine against ASF.
HERE IN MINNESOTA
The University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) along with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) have put together an Emergency Disease Management Committee for Swine. Comprised of swine producers, veterinarians, university researchers, agency representatives, allied industry and MN Pork Board personnel, the committee is currently meeting weekly and working in subcommittees to flesh out the details of the Minnesota BAH’s African Swine Fever response plan. The committee’s goal is to have the plan well-developed by late September.The plan contains a detailed strategy for dealing with African Swine Fever in Minnesota. A USDA-organized disaster simulation, the “ASF Functional Exercise” will be conducted simultaneously in 14 swine-production states in late September. This Exercise will test the ability of the swine industry to handle an ASF outbreak.
In 2015 Minnesota had the unfortunate distinction of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the state’s poultry flocks. Millions of birds perished or were euthanized. Producers and health officials who worked through the HPAI nightmare have provided a wealth of education of what worked and what did not work during that disastrous outbreak.
Pig farmers across the country understand the seriousness of the ASF threat. Collaboration between producers, health officials, packers and allied industry is the way that African Swine Fever will be conquered.
Judging from the speed of response to learn more and to harden our borders against ASF in this past year, imagine how much better prepared the United States will be at the end of Year Two.
*] United States Department of Agriculture Press Release No. 0072.19
Diane DeWitte is an Extension Swine Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension. Based in Mankato, she can be reached at stouf002@umn.edu.
Comments
Post a Comment