The United States Department of Agriculture intends to grant an experimental license for an African Swine Fever vaccine. That intent was published in the Federal Register and says the Agricultural Research Service intends to grant the license to a company in Bulgaria. Currently there is no commercial vaccine available for ASF. Nebraska Pork Producers Association President Tim Chancellor says he’s pleased they’re moving forward with that.
He says making that vaccine commercially available won’t happen overnight and it will take time to develop it.
Chancellor says besides having the vaccine worked on, it’s critical the U.S. pork industry remain vigilant and proactive in preventing the spread of ASF and continuing with their biosecurity efforts.
Estimates are that African Swine Fever has affected 150 million to 200 million pigs, which is nearly 40 percent larger than annual U.S. pork production and equivalent to Europe’s annual pork supply.
