African Swine Fever Week
This is African Swine Fever Action Week across the US.
The USDA is holding a series of webinars on the dangerous viral disease that has the potential of devastating the US pork industry.
ASF has not been detected in the US. Dr. Jack Shere of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says that’s why the USDA is focusing much of its attention on helping to keep it out this week.
Shere: “ If African Swine Fever was to get into the United States, it would take probably five years to eradicate it. It would probably cost the industry in the neighborhood of $80 to $90 billion just to get rid of that disease. The loss of production would be tremendous.”
That’s echos Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack who earlier said the disease could be devasting to the American pork industry could lose billions of dollars in production and lost export sales.
Shere says the African Swine Fever Actions Week is modeled after TV’s shark week, with discussions and coverage of the subject each day. The Animal Plant Health Inspection Service is holding free daily webinars on how to prevent ASF’s spread, detection, and how to eradicate it should it reach US pork operations.
Search online for “African Swine Fever Action Week” for details on webinars and other information.
