By ANN HINCH

Associate Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Just a few years ago, it was avian influenza that struck worry in the hearts of those in the U.S. meat industry; now it’s African swine fever, or ASF.

Though the ASF virus is not found anywhere near the United States at this time, its detection in pork-producing regions of Asia and parts of Europe is creating concern in this part of the world – including Indiana and other hog-heavy states. Talk of preparation in case it comes to North America dominated this month’s quarterly Indiana State Board of Animals Health (BOAH) meeting.

State Veterinarian Dr. Bret Marsh also briefly addressed the situation at Fair Oaks Farms in northern Indiana, which is undergoing investigation from local law enforcement as well as BOAH vets for alleged animal abuse reported by undercover group Animal Recovery Mission. He said despite its high-profile nature, BOAH is treating this as a standard cruelty/neglect investigation as it would allegations elsewhere.

Marsh said the agency is preparing its investigative report for local law enforcement. Public Information Director Denise Derrer, who has been fielding reporters’ inquiries since BOAH was named the state’s point agency for media, said the report will probably not be made public before law enforcement release their findings.

ASF preparations

In her talk on ASF, Dr. Kelli Werling, BOAH director of swine health, said official reports of pig losses in Asia are certainly less than real losses. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), from June 21-July 4 alone, more than 3,200 pigs were reported as losses (infected or culled/early-harvested animals from infected farms) in China (nearly half that total), Vietnam, Poland, Romania, South Africa, and Russia (only 2).

The OIE also reported within that two-week period, 15 countries/territories reported new or ongoing outbreaks; new cases of the virus were reported in Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and South Africa. Media reports vary on total animal losses, but in China alone multiple cited sources have estimated at least a 50 percent herd loss – a figure in the low millions.

Werling said the ASF virus does not affect any other mammals, including humans. Its presence is, however, detrimental for trade in that in addition to animal losses it triggers import restrictions.

Prior to June 1 there was no active surveillance program in the United States; since then, the USDA has instituted an integrated plan for both ASF and Classical Swine Fever. Ten of the nation’s animal health laboratories have been chosen to test samples taken from slaughter surveillance, higher-risk pig surveillance, feral swine, and sick-pig veterinary diagnostic lab submissions.

On May 29, she said BOAH launched a voluntary preparedness program for swine producers based on the national Secure Pork Supply Plan, called Securing Indiana’s Pork Supply. Since December 2018 BOAH staff have participated in three national exercises to discuss how to deal with the possibility of finding ASF in a herd, and there is a drill scheduled for September.

The exercises have included hog producers, meatpackers, commercial processors, and even exhibitors in discussions. For instance, one topic that has come up is about instituting a 72-hour suspension on the pork supply chain in the event ASF is found – not moving hogs or any pork products, while officials work to trace the virus source.

Marsh said while it’s not difficult for livestock producers to hold market-bound animals for three extra days, it could create problems for those transporting, processing, and selling pork. These, however, must be weighed against the good of a hold to stop the spread of ASF.

“If (we) can shut everything down for three days and save the industry, maybe that’s worth it,” he added.

Other topics have revolved around petitioning USDA for full compensation for any such hog losses – right now it’s 50 cents on the dollar, whereas poultry indemnity is at 100 percent – and the best way to cull/depopulate pigs in infected herds and how to dispose of them.

When the avian flu hit the Midwest a few years ago, tens of millions of bird carcasses had to be quickly disposed of in such a way the virus would be snuffed out, and the lack of a plan created logistical problems.

Of course, pigs are not birds. “When you really get down to the weeds, they are very different industries,” Werling said of preparation methods.

“We’re just really getting a good handle on it,” Marsh noted, adding BOAH hopes to provide a template for other states. He said the agency has been receiving calls not just from other states’ officials on help in planning, but from farmers outside Indiana, concerned their state agencies aren’t doing enough.

Werling emphasized while commercial hog facilities must register a premises ID with BOAH, the Securing Indiana’s Pork Supply participation is voluntary – though available to any swine producer or exhibitor.

It has five steps: premises ID validation for the actual location of animals (as opposed to the owner’s home, if different); having a biosecurity assessment and training plan (“In the event we knock on their door and say, ‘You’ve got to do more,’ how are you going to do that?” Werling explained); having a vet-trained person on-site to take samples to send for lab testing if needed; having someone trained to apply for permits to move livestock or products in the event of a quarantine; and attending a meeting with BOAH training on the plan.

As of July 9, she said only one facility has completed all five steps in the program, but at least 469 premise IDs have been validated, and there are many applicants who have completed at least some of the other four steps. BOAH has 14,450 premise IDs in its database, of which approximately 3,000 are commercial operations – those are the ones Werling definitely hopes will participate.

To learn more about the program and sign up for email/text updates, visit www.in.gov/boah/2857.htm