WASHINGTON, October 5, 2022—The USDA’s Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting its second African Swine Action Week (ASF) from October 10-14, 2022. We are encouraging hog producers, small farms and hog owners to join us and learn about ASF and what they can do to help protect the American hog herd.
ASF has never been detected in the U.S., but since its 2021 detection in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the closest to the U.S. in decades, USDA has partnered with industry and states to improve already robust defenses against it. protect US pigs from this costly disease.
“African swine fever is not a threat to human health, nor is it a food safety concern,” said Dr. Jack Shere, APHIS Associate Administrator and leader of the Agency’s ASF prevention efforts. “But if introduced here, ASF will kill millions of pigs that America relies on for food and trade. And, if it became endemic, it would take us more than 10 years and about $80 billion to eradicate the disease,” Shere added.
I tweet, Facebook and Website to learn more about what Aphis is doing and what you can do to protect our pigs. Tune in for two special live events:
- Tuesday, October 11: US Softening, Live Twitter Q&A
Two ASF subject matter experts will answer your questions on Twitter from 2 to 3 pm ET. - Thursday, October 13: State of African Swine Fever Live Webinar with Jack Shere
Dr. Shere will also host a live webinar on the latest aphis and industry prevention actions, the U.S. approach to disease mitigation, and address questions gathered from U.S. hog producers, small farmers and hog owners from 2 :30 to 3:30 pm ET. To join, pre-register at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/wn_banq5qu4trscwqya3i3cng.
Through the Protect Pigs campaign, USDA is raising awareness of ASF to help producers and veterinarians quickly find and share actionable information to protect their herds and livelihoods. Free resources, such as custom videos, downloadable materials, and interactive training guides are available on the Protect Pigs website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases /asf/.
Be sure to check the website and sign up to our GovDelivery email list so you don’t miss any Action Week events or information.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans every day in 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, and ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food across communities, building new markets and revenue streams for farmers and producers using smart food practices and climate forestry, making historic investments in clean energy infrastructure and capabilities in rural America, and engaging for equity across the department by removing systemic barriers and building a more representative American workforce. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
