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Deadly pig virus could hit US in a year, warn experts
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Charlotte Middlehurst
Fri 7 Dec 2018 06.30 EST Last modified on Fri 7 Dec 2018 06.37 EST
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An ongoing epidemic of the virus, which is deadly for pigs but cannot yet be transmitted to humans, has prompted the US Department of Agriculture to review and strengthen its border protections. After outbreaks in Belgium and China this year, the USDA has increased the use of sniffer dogs at major ports, airports, land borders crossings, and has also built quarantine stations and increased passenger and cargo inspections on flights from China and Russia, the worst hit countries.
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?If we continue to do business as usual then [the US] will probably get ASF in a year. If we change some of our practices, which we are trying to do, then there?s a chance we can keep it out,? said Dr Scott Dee, biosecurity specialist and chief scientist at one of the America?s largest veterinary practices, Pipestone Applied Research.
?If it got into the wild pig population it would be a disaster. I don?t even like to have the conversation about what we?d do if it got in because by that point we?ve already lost the war.?
The virus is spread either through contact, or through contaminated meat products; it can survive in processed meat for several months, and in frozen meat for a number of years. In October, a packet of sausages confiscated at a Japanese airport was tested and found to contain the virus. At present it is not a danger to humans, but there are fears that it could mutate.
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The risk to the US is high because of the large volumes of agricultural produce imported from China, according to biosecurity specialists, and due to the ASF?s strong viral resilience; it can survive journeys of 30 hours or more and live in foodstuffs. ?We are dealing with a very stable virus. It can live outside the host, outside the pig in all sorts of different conditions ? low PH, high PH, dirt, meat,? said Dr Dee.
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Yu Kangzhen, vice-minister of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said in a press statement on 27 November that the risk of the fever spreading cannot be ignored as the country is still faced with a challenging situation of disease control. There are concerns that Chinese provincial governments are suppressing data and asking pork companies not to report new outbreaks.
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See also:
China: 2018 African Swine Fever
...
Charlotte Middlehurst
Fri 7 Dec 2018 06.30 EST Last modified on Fri 7 Dec 2018 06.37 EST
...
An ongoing epidemic of the virus, which is deadly for pigs but cannot yet be transmitted to humans, has prompted the US Department of Agriculture to review and strengthen its border protections. After outbreaks in Belgium and China this year, the USDA has increased the use of sniffer dogs at major ports, airports, land borders crossings, and has also built quarantine stations and increased passenger and cargo inspections on flights from China and Russia, the worst hit countries.
...
?If we continue to do business as usual then [the US] will probably get ASF in a year. If we change some of our practices, which we are trying to do, then there?s a chance we can keep it out,? said Dr Scott Dee, biosecurity specialist and chief scientist at one of the America?s largest veterinary practices, Pipestone Applied Research.
?If it got into the wild pig population it would be a disaster. I don?t even like to have the conversation about what we?d do if it got in because by that point we?ve already lost the war.?
The virus is spread either through contact, or through contaminated meat products; it can survive in processed meat for several months, and in frozen meat for a number of years. In October, a packet of sausages confiscated at a Japanese airport was tested and found to contain the virus. At present it is not a danger to humans, but there are fears that it could mutate.
...
The risk to the US is high because of the large volumes of agricultural produce imported from China, according to biosecurity specialists, and due to the ASF?s strong viral resilience; it can survive journeys of 30 hours or more and live in foodstuffs. ?We are dealing with a very stable virus. It can live outside the host, outside the pig in all sorts of different conditions ? low PH, high PH, dirt, meat,? said Dr Dee.
...
Yu Kangzhen, vice-minister of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said in a press statement on 27 November that the risk of the fever spreading cannot be ignored as the country is still faced with a challenging situation of disease control. There are concerns that Chinese provincial governments are suppressing data and asking pork companies not to report new outbreaks.
...
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See also:
China: 2018 African Swine Fever
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