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Border security gets boost as African swine fever spreads across Dominican Republic

USDA has announced more safety measures at the border following the discovery of African swine fever in the Dominican Republic.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a federal order establishing new requirements for dogs imported into the United States for resale from ASF-positive countries.

Earlier this year, the National Pork Producers Council sounded the alarm on the potential for imported rescue dogs to serve as disease carriers from their bedding, crates, or coats.

Minnesota Pork CEO David Preisler tells Brownfield USDA and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are stepping up inspections.

“Making sure that people aren’t carrying in products that they shouldn’t that could carry that virus into the United States. Whether it’s cruise ships, whether it’s the airports (and) that sort of thing, (security) is being stepped up. And those are important biosecurity practices that just plain need to happen, and will happen.”

The discovery of African swine fever in the Dominican marks the first time in four decades the disease has been found in the Western Hemisphere. 

Preisler says ASF has quickly spread to nearly a dozen of the 31 total provinces in the Dominican Republic.