African swine fever (ASF) is a rapidly spreading disease that kills pigs but does not affect human health. The disease poses a significant global socio-economic threat, since pigs are a main source of protein across the world. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is committed to preventing the introduction of ASF into the United States to maintain the health of our pork industry and protect our food supply.
ASF is a highly contagious viral hemorrhagic disease that causes severe illness or death in both domestic and wild pigs of all age groups. The disease has no known cure, and mortality rates can approach 100 percent of infected pigs. ASF can be spread through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated materials, transmitted by a tick (Ornithodoros moubata) that feeds on infected animals, or by feeding pigs garbage or other infected products.
The disease is endemic in Africa and rapidly spreading in European and Asian countries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service provides a list of countries affected with ASF, and the World Organisation for Animal Health monitors current ASF outbreaks. The disease has never been reported in the United States, but the recent reintroduction of ASF in the Dominican Republic and Haiti poses a serious threat to our pork industry.
ASF cannot be spread from pigs to humans and is not a threat to human health.
Contaminated materials, such as pork and pork products or garbage, can contribute to the spread of ASF, and global trade and travel increases the risk and likelihood of introducing ASF into the United States. The introduction of ASF could potentially cripple the U.S. pork industry, which is annually valued at billions of dollars, since the presence of only one ASF-infected pig usually results in the swift culling of the whole herd.
For additional information, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture ASF website, email CBP Agriculture Programs and Trade Liaison at OFO-APTL@cbp.dhs.gov.