PRIMGHAR, Iowa — Swine producers are watching the news for a foreign disease that is expanding rapidly around the world. African Swine Fever (ASF) used to be a pig disease on the African continent, but has extended into Russia and now China is in a fight to try to eradicate it. Additionally, the disease is moving into Eastern Europe. Belgium has found it in the wild boar population and they are eradicating pigs in the infected area.
The reason that swine producers in Northwest Iowa are concerned is because the export markets would be dramatically reduced if AFS or another foreign animal disease is found in this country. The swine industry is dependent on exports for profitability. Currently, the value added is over fifty dollars per pig because of exports.
African Swine Fever is a pig disease. People need not worry as the meat is totally safe to eat even if there is an ASF outbreak. The only concern is for the pigs as the disease is bad. A very high fever results in a high death loss, up to 100 percent. It is a disease pork producers want to keep out of the country. Unfortunately, ASF is a fairly hardy virus, capable of living a long time especially in damp cool conditions.
The virus can travel in infected pigs, and also can be transported by food, feed, and overseas travelers. The virus can live on meat products (again, no food safety issue because ASF is a pig disease). However, in Iowa, garbage feeding is illegal unless it is cooked to specification. Additionally, swine producers are telling employees not to bring meat products to work, especially meat from countries fighting a foreign animal disease. Feed is not likely to transmit the virus; however, a recent demonstration project has shown that the virus can survive the trip across the ocean. Preliminary half live calculations estimate AFS can live an additional 20 days. Because the virus lives a long time, recent travelers to an AFS infected country could possibly carry the virus on their return trip, especially if they have visited swine dense areas. Therefore, overseas travelers are asked to stay away from pigs for at least five days.
The biosecurity programs swine producers have in place are being reviewed and re-emphasized. Biosecurity at the farm gate is an important management step in protecting against the disease. When the foreign disease called Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea came to this country from China, it spread all over the industry in a few months; however, we have learned some new things about biosecurity since then and have more optimism that good biosecurity implementation can be an important tool to stop the virus. Workshops are being developed for Northwest Iowa swine producers to help them develop more successful biosecurity.
Finally, ASF needs to be identified early on the farm to shorten the time it takes to eradicate the disease. Initially, it looks like many other common swine diseases, so careful observation is necessary and any sudden increase in death loss should be investigated. Ironically, ASF is not highly contagious between pigs. Initially infected pigs may be in one pen out of the barn or in a localized area. Some of the common symptoms swine producers are looking for is a high temperature (Veterinarians are recommending producers temperature check pigs and get a diagnosis if there is any question.) and in white-skinned pigs, the ears, tail, legs and underside appear deeply flushed and may develop a bluish tinge over time.
For more information, the Iowa Pork Industry Center has a web site that has all the latest information and a sign up to receive electronic updates: https://www.ipic.iastate.edu/AfricanSwineFever.html.
— Dave Stender, Swine Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
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