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African Swine Fever not a threat to human health

Pork industry leaders are assuring consumers African Swine Fever poses no threat to human health.

David Preisler is CEO of the Minnesota Pork Producers Association.

“This is a disease that only effects pigs and has zero effect on consumers.  So from a food safety standpoint, there’s zero concern.”

African Swine Fever has gained notoriety since China reported the first of eight cases a month ago.

National Pork Producers Council chief veterinarian Liz Wagstrom tells Brownfield while there are no other susceptible species, some wild pigs like wildebeests can be carriers.

Preisler says industry partners plan to meet with USDA officials soon.

“Not only to go over what authority that USDA has from a standpoint of animal health, especially animal health concerns in other countries and how it may apply here.  But also to go over a series of recommendations that those three organizations have for USDA.”

Those three organizations are NPPC, the National Pork Board, and American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Preisler says there is no vaccine for African Swine Fever, and the mortality rate is around 90 percent.