Researchers Analyze Risk for ASF Introduction into the U.S. Via Airports

Volume 52 | April 8, 2019

As African swine fever (ASF) spreads throughout China, East Asia and Western Europe, the risk of ASF virus introduction into the U.S. increases. A new analysis says that risk of introduction – not pigs breaking with ASF – has increased 183%.

The study, conducted by the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota (OIE collaborating center on capacity building) and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain (OIE reference laboratory for ASF), looked at the risk of ASF introduction into the U.S. via airport passengers and the likelihood of any ASF-contaminated product getting through, and out of, the airport.

Paul Sundberg, DVM, executive director of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), said the results confirmed the likelihood of ASF being introduced into the U.S. is very high, as consistent with other countries’ experiences.

WI-Origin Tags Available Online!

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The WLIC online store gives producers several options for purchasing the WI-Origin™ tags, including choice of style, color, and price. Other preferences include a selection of both RFID (radio frequency identification), or non-RFID tags.

WLIC is competitively priced and all proceeds will be used to fund our programs and services!

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In the News

Baldwin Among Senators Calling For Dairy Implementation

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and a bipartisan group of dairy state Senators are pressing Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize the implementation of the dairy provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill.

AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has published its first ever Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals to help veterinarians support animal welfare in situations where the difficult decision to depopulate has been made.

A Science Advocate for Cows

Hating on cows is popular, largely because of misperceptions and miscalculations by groups who might take advantage of the general public’s lack of knowledge about science. Often stepping into the fray to set the record straight is Frank Mitloehner, professor and air quality expert from University of California, Davis, also known as @GHGGuru on Twitter, where you can find links to many of his challenges to anti-cow propaganda.

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