The World Health Organization’s President says around a quarter of the world’s pigs are expected to die from African swine fever as the disease spreads rapidly around the globe. National Pork Producers Council’s Chief Veterinarian Dr. Liz Wagstrom says those numbers are from China’s estimated pork losses. She says the global losses are likely higher than that.
She says that report highlights the need for America’s pork producers to continue tightening their biosecurity efforts. Wagstrom also says the U.S. pork industry has been meeting with Mexican and Canadian officials talking about ASF prevention measures to keep the disease out of North America.
Wagstrom advises as U.S. pork producers step up biosecurity she advises them to pay close attention to their feed sources and know where that feed is coming from.
Wagstrom says recent legislation that unanimously passed the Senate should help in ASF prevention. It calls for more inspectors at U.S. borders and more canine team members to help with inspections.
