African Swine Fever

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African Swine Fever (ASF) is a high-consequence, foreign animal, notifiable disease of swine. There is no treatment or vaccination for African Swine Fever virus. Due to an escalating outbreak of African Swine Fever disease in China and Romania, as well as ongoing disease transmission in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa, enhanced biosecurity steps are recommended for people who own, exhibit, sell or raise pigs in the U.S.

SWINE PRODUCER ACTIONS

There are specific actions pig owners, pork producers, veterinarians and the public can take to prevent the disease from entering a swine herd in the United States.

Stay informed. Updates from USDA and global partners are released regularly. Know where ASF outbreaks are occurring and where the disease has become endemic. Read the industry alerts and make
sure organizations important to you have current contact information so they can keep you posted. Ask your veterinarian for updates and communicate any concerns that are specific to your farm.

Read labels. To the best of your ability, be aware of where your resources are grown, manufactured or processed. Know the country of origin of feeds and supplies for your animals. Carefully read the packaging, all labels and seek additional information from distributors if you purchase feed ingredients, nutritional supplements and feed additives, pork and pork products, swine medical and pig processing supplies, oral and topical products, and disposable equipment.

Separate the sick. Quickly isolate animals with any signs of illness from healthy animals. Notify your veterinarian and/or animal health officials immediately if unusual symptoms are noticed. Keep pigs in secure locations and prevent contact with wildlife.

Keep it clean. Wash your hands and change clothes before and after handling with pigs. Keep visitors to pig pens and swine housing to a minimum and control vehicle traffic around areas where pigs live. ASF is not a public health threat, but people can move the virus from location to location on their hands, shoes, clothing and personal items. Ask people who have been out of the country to wait at least a week before visiting areas where pigs live. Insist that all contractors, veterinarians and suppliers that do work on your farm adhere to your biosecurity requirements and use appropriate protective equipment.

Know the risks. Implement or update tick control measures. This is of utmost importance for pigs with outdoor access. Avoid feeding pigs food scraps originally intended for human consumption.

IF ASF IS SUSPECTED…

ASF is a reportable disease. Call your local veterinarian immediately or the State Veterinarian’s office directly at 701-328-2655.
Do not leave the farm until a foreign animal disease diagnostician arrives.
Do not go onto another farm until ASF and other foreign animal diseases have been ruled out.
Request visitors to stay off the premises and ask producers to delay acceptance of deliveries.
There is no vaccine to prevent ASF. Control of ASF depends on early recognition by producers and caretakers. All necessary and appropriate measures should be taken to prevent the spread of disease.