What is African swine fever (ASF)?
- Highly contagious virus in pigs (wild and domestic)
- Does NOT affect public health or food safety – meat is safe for people to eat.
- Causes fever, skin discoloration, diarrhea, and death.
- Other signs may include piling, tiredness, and going off feed.
- Sudden deaths or abortions may be the first sign of infection in a herd.
- Animals may be infected 3-21 days before showing signs.
- Highly contagious – virus is shed in saliva, breath, milk, semen, urine and manure.
- Can be spread directly between animals OR spread indirectly on clothing, footwear, vehicles, equipment, and wildlife.
- Also spread by ticks, mosquitoes, and biting flies.
Where is it?
- African swine fever is found in Africa and countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
- NOT in United States, Canada, Mexica, or Central America
How will African swine fever affect pork producers if it enters the U.S.?
- Movements on and off farms in regulatory Control Areas could be stopped by state and federal officials to try and stop disease spread.
- Export markets close and prices drop.
- When one animal on the farm becomes infected, the whole herd is likely to become sick.
How can the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan help protect
your herd?
- It recommends biosecurity that pork producers can put in place to help protect their pigs.
- It includes steps producers can take to show that their pigs can be moved without spreading disease.
- It provides an opportunity for pork producers to keep their business running if their pigs remain uninfected.
Download the PDF here.