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The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting its fourth African Swine Fever (ASF) Action Week this week (October 28-November 1, 2024). We are encouraging U.S. swine producers, small farms and owners of all types of pigs to join us to learn about ASF and what they can do to help protect the U.S. swine herd.
ASF has never been detected in the United States. However, since the 2021 detections in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the closest to the United States in decades, USDA has partnered with industry and states to enhance already strong safeguards to protect U.S. swine from this costly disease.
“While this disease poses no threat to human health, nor is it a food safety concern, if ASF gets into the United States, it would be catastrophic at many levels,” said Dr. Rosemary Sifford, the United States’ Chief Veterinary Officer. “It has the potential to kill millions of pigs, resulting in an estimated $75 billion in economic losses over 10 years. This would inevitably lead to higher grocery prices for consumers and could severely disrupt our trade relationships with other countries.”
Through the Protect Our Pigs campaign, USDA is raising awareness of ASF to help producers and veterinarians quickly find and share actionable information to defend their herds and livelihoods. Free resources, such as custom videos, downloadable materials, and interactive training guides are available at the Protect Our Pigs website.
Be sure to check the website and sign up for our GovDelivery email list so you don’t miss any Action Week events or information.
APHIS protects the health of U.S. agriculture and natural resources against invasive pests and diseases, regulates genetically engineered crops, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and helps people and wildlife coexist. We also certify the health of U.S. agricultural exports and resolve phytosanitary and sanitary issues to open, expand, and maintain markets for U.S plant and animal products.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
October 29, 2024 - USDA
