As the global pork industry continues to face challenges, the threat of African Swine Fever remains a critical concern for producers.
The Director of Animal Health at the National Pork Producers Council provides an update highlighting the ongoing risks and the industry’s efforts to combat the virus.
“I’ve been getting a comment recently that it seems like it’s slowed down. We’re not hearing as much about African swine fever, and I would agree that we’re not hearing as much about African swine fever. But I think the message that I would like producers to hear is that the threat remains. It’s not like countries are eradicating this virus. ASF is in more parts of the world than not, and so the threat the risk is the same as it was when we were really talking about SF. And so we need to continue to focus on preparedness and response and on-farm biosecurity,” said Dr. Anna Forseth.
Forseth also discussed efforts to develop a vaccine for ASF, noting that progress is being made but is slow and complex.
“Yeah, the vaccine research continues there are, you know, several different vaccines. This is an interest of of industries far beyond the United States. And so that allows for a lot of collaboration across border and and in countries that are dealing with the virus itself, so it’s not easy to make a vaccine for this particular virus. It’s not easy to get a vaccine approved for this particular virus. And so the expectation was not that it happened quickly. And so the update for for now is that we are still working on the vaccine.”
This is why the NPPC is working with other animal industries, like beef and poultry, to lobby for funding for the needed tools and resources in the Farm Bill.
