Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

09/07/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/08/2021 08:20

USDA Hosting African Swine Fever Action Week September 13-17

Published: Sep 7, 2021

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2021 -- The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting African Swine Fever (ASF) Action Week from September 13-17 - encouraging U.S. swine producers to join multiple webinars to learn about ASF and what they can do to help protect the U.S. swine herd. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also recorded a video echoing the importance of keeping this devastating disease out of the United States.

'This disease does not affect people and it cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans, and it's not a food safety issue,' Vilsack said. 'However, ASF is incredibly destructive, and we need you to be informed.'

'ASF outbreaks have ravaged hog populations in parts of Europe and Asia, especially China, over the last three years, and the disease was recently detected in captive hogs in Germany and confirmed less than a thousand miles away from our shores in the Dominican Republic in July,' said Vilsack. 'African swine fever has never been detected in the United States, and we are committed to keeping it out and protecting our vital swine industry.'

Every day the week of September 13-17, from 2:00 pm - 3:00pm EDT, APHIS will host a webinar on a different ASF topic. These webinars will also be recorded. The webinars will be as follows:

  • Monday, September 13: African Swine Fever: Where it Exists and What's at Stake
  • Tuesday, September 14: Steps APHIS is Taking to Prevent and Prepare for ASF
  • Wednesday, September 15: ASF and the Benefits of Biosecurity
  • Thursday, September 16: What to Expect in an ASF Outbreak
  • Friday, September 17: ASF and the Feral Swine Factor

Interested producers can register here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/swine-disease-information/african-swine-fever/seminar/asf-action-week

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.

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