USDA Funding Demonstrates Commitment to Disease Prevention and Control

By Harry Siemens

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) said the allocation of federal funding for African Swine Fever (ASF) control made a powerful statement about the US commitment to foreign animal disease prevention.

In July representatives of the NPPC, the National Pork Board and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Foreign Agricultural Service travelled to the Dominican Republic for a first-hand look at the ASF situation on the island of Hispaniola.

Dr. Anna Forseth of the NPPC said much of the progress in that region is the result of the USDA’s financial support.

In September 2021 US Secretary Vilsack dedicated $500 million in Commodity Credit Corporation funds toward ASF control efforts in the Dominican and Haiti and ultimately toward prevention of ASF introduction into North America.

“The funding is a big deal for these two countries but it also made a pretty big statement here at home in the US. That’s lots of money dedicated to a disease not on US soil so I think it speaks to the importance of ASF control and prevention from the US and USDA,” Dr. Forseth.

This funding is focused on controlling the virus, specifically avoiding the jump from the island of Hispaniola to Puerto Rico or the mainland US. NPPC will travel to Puerto Rico to get an idea of some of the mitigation measures implemented in the last one to two years to protect Puerto Rico from the introduction of ASF.

Dr. Forseth said the first samples to test positive from the island of Hispaniola were in July of 2021. She said that after continued cooperative testing it showed that the outbreak was more widespread throughout the island by the end of 2021 and that NPPC should focus again on border security. One example would be the support of a bill in Congress called the “Beagle Brigade” bill that would authorize a training centre in Georgia. The centre will work with these dogs, training them to detect illegal pork products and other products that people try to import illegally or carry in their baggage.

“At NPPC we focus on knowing what the situation is outside of our borders but trying to find ways to protect our borders,” said Dr. Forseth.

As to whether the level of risk for the North American mainland has changed, Dr. Foseth said it is still difficult to answer partly because of the prevalence of ASF in many countries for a long time. Countries that North Americans travel to and receive goods from regularly.

“We all recognize that the detection of ASF on the island of Hispaniola is much closer. So it would be tough to argue that it’s not an increased risk because of the geographic closeness of where this virus is to North America,” she said.

Mitigation efforts have ramped up four years since the virus started to travel more broadly around Asia and Europe. These include inspections at ports with more beagles who have the amazing ability to identify illegal products. Also education and awareness of ASF is conveyed to travellers through signage and messaging at airports and on cruise lines are areas of increased border mitigation.

She encouraged North American producers to stay aware and be informed of the situation and determine the risks and prepare for business continuity.

Dr. Forseth said the goal is to keep ASF out of the US which will help in Canada. Getting a boots-on-the-ground view of the situation makes sense.