By Jerry Hagstrom
DTN Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (DTN) — The Agriculture Department would stop the movement of all swine for 72 hours if there is a detection of the African swine fever (ASF) in the United States, Agriculture Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach announced Friday.
ASF is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and wild pigs that has not been detected in the U.S. ASF does not affect human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.
?First and foremost, USDA is committed to doing all it can to prevent ASF from entering the U.S. and we greatly appreciate the pork industry’s vigilance and partnership in this successful effort thus far,? Ibach said at the Pork Forum in Kansas City. ?However, the additional measures I am announcing today will strengthen our ability to quickly and effectively respond to the disease if detected here at home.?
ASF has decimated China’s domestic swine herd since fall 2018 with as much as 40% of swine culled because of the disease.
