APHIS: Confirmation of COVID-19 in Deer in Ohio

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) announced confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in wild white-tailed deer in Ohio. These are the first deer confirmed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide, although earlier studies have shown both that deer can be experimentally infected with the virus and that some wild deer had antibodies to the virus.

Samples from the deer were collected between January and March 2021 by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine as part of ongoing deer damage management activities. There were no reports of...

NPPC Thanks USDA For Imported Dog Rules

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced a federal order establishing additional requirements for dogs imported into the United States for resale from African swine fever (ASF)-positive countries. Ensuring ASF and other foreign animal diseases don’t enter the country is one of the National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) top priorities. Earlier this year, NPPC sounded the alarm on the potential for imported rescue dogs to serve as disease carriers from their bedding, crates or coats, becoming a lead issue during our spring Legislative Action Conference (LAC).

The United States remains free of ASF – an animal disease affecting only pigs with no human health implications.

As USDA explained, effective immediately, importers of dogs into the United States for resale from a region in which ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist, must submit written documentation verifying completion of the following requirements...

USDA Statement on Confirmation of African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed African swine fever (ASF) in samples collected from pigs in the Dominican Republic through an existing cooperative surveillance program.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has numerous interlocking safeguards in place to prevent ASF from entering the United States. Pork and pork products from the Dominican Republic are currently prohibited entry as a result of existing classical swine fever restrictions. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is increasing inspections...

CBP Agriculture Specialists Prevent Smuggled Animal Products from Entering United States

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists (CBPAS) issued 246 emergency action notifications during the second quarter of 2021. Emergency Action Notifications (EAN) alert trade entities of non-compliance with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulations. The EAN provides options for phytosanitary actions that must be taken to prevent the entry of plant pests, prohibited plant products, or animal products capable of introducing foreign animal diseases.

During the inspection of rail containers in International Falls, Minnesota, CBPAS intercepted more than 18,500 pounds of smuggled animal products. The animal products were seized because...

APHIS Adds India to List of Regions Affected with African Swine Fever

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) added India to the list of regions we consider to be affected with African Swine Fever (ASF.) We took this action on May 13, 2020 when the disease was confirmed and are now publishing notice in the regulations. Pork and pork products from India, including casings, are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate the risk of ASF introduction into the United States.

ASF is a devastating, deadly disease of pigs that is not currently found in the United States. USDA's actions will...

USDA and CFIA Establish Protocol to Minimize Trade Disruptions if ASF Detected in Feral Swine 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have developed a protocol to help ensure bilateral trade will continue if African swine fever (ASF) is detected in feral swine in either country, while still absent from domestic swine.

The intent of the protocol is to protect swine populations in both countries during an outbreak of ASF in feral swine, while minimizing impacts on the trade of live swine, swine products, and other swine commodities. Upon an ASF feral swine detection, all trade between both countries would initially stop. Then, according to the protocol, trade would resume in three, progressive phases with...

Update on USDA Activities to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic

In January 2021, President Biden released the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. The plan is driven by science, data, and public health to improve the effectiveness of our nation’s fight against COVID-19 and to restore trust, accountability and a sense of common purpose in our response to the pandemic.

The National Strategy provides a roadmap to guide America out of the worst public health crisis in a century. It is organized around seven goals...

APHIS is Proposing to Classify Canada as Level One for Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to classify Canada as Level One for bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis. This proposed recognition is based on evaluations we have prepared in connection with this action, which we are making available for review and comment.

The Government of Canada requested that APHIS evaluate and classify Canada for bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis. APHIS prepared two evaluations which conclude that Canada meets the conditions to be classified as Level One for both bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis, supporting adding Canada to the web-based list of Level One regions for bovine tuberculosis and the web-based list of Level One regions for...

APHIS Reflects on 2015 HPAI Outbreak and Addresses the Importance of Biosecurity

In a recent webinar hosted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Dr. Dale Lauer, Dr. Rocio Crespo, and Dr. Denise Heard reflected on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak of 2015, and steps that can be taken to protect poultry flocks going forward.

HPAI can be spread from bird to bird through direct or indirect contact with infected birds including feathers, bodily discharge, or from the equipment, hands, shoes, and clothes of caretakers. Signs of the disease include depression, decreased feed and water intake, runny eyes and nose, and swollen head. The disease can affect an entire flock and has a death rate up to...

NPPC Submits Comments on Proposed USDA Rule for Gene-Edited Livestock

For more than two years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has dragged its feet on the development of gene-edited livestock, an emerging technology with tremendous promise for livestock agriculture,causing American agriculture to fall behind in the global race to advance its development. Thankfully, under a recently proposed rule, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will have primary regulatory jurisdiction, which “will foster innovation, allow for producer access to this technology, and preserve the preeminence of American agriculture globally,” the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) wrote in comments submitted Wednesday to the agency.

Gene editing is used to make specific changes within an animal’s own genome. Gene editing will allow us to produce animals that are more disease-resistant, require fewer antibiotics and with...

USDA Provides More than $70 Million in 2021 to Protect Agriculture from Plant Pests and Diseases

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating more than $70 million to support 383 projects under the Plant Protection Act’s Section 7721 program to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, threat mitigation, to safeguard the nursery production system and to respond to plant pest emergencies. Universities, states, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofits, and Tribal organizations will carry out selected projects in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

“State governments, academic institutions, and other essential cooperators across the country use these USDA funds to protect American crops and natural resources and...

Confirmation of COVID-19 in a Snow Leopard at a Kentucky Zoo

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) announced the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in a snow leopard at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. This is the first snow leopard in the United States to test positive for SARS-CoV-2. Confirmatory testing is ongoing for two other snow leopards at the zoo.

Samples from three snow leopards were taken after they showed signs of respiratory illness. All three of the snow leopards are expected to fully recover. It is suspected that they acquired the infection from...