The first outbreak of African Swine Fever in the Western Hemisphere in nearly 40 years requires all U.S. swine farmers to prioritize and enhance biosecurity practices aimed at protecting the health of their herds.
On July 28, 2021, positive cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) were found in the Dominican Republic and confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Animals positive for this disease were found as part of an international cooperative surveillance program, and this marks the first finding of ASF in the Caribbean since the 1980s.
The presence of ASF in the Dominican Republic means that North America is no longer free of a virus that has affected many other countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Only 800 miles separates U.S. pigs from this disease. Despite this proximity, it is important to understand that ASF is not a threat to human health or food safety as the virus cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.
Read the Full StoryPage last updated: August 4, 2021