U.S. updates its African Swine Fever Response Plan

The following list highlights important revisions made to the USDA APHIS ASF Response Plan: The Red Book (July 2023).

• Introduces the concept and benefit of the Protection Zone for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Acknowledges potential pathways of the ASF virus into the United States, given the Hispaniola threat.
• Includes a brief evaluation of the risk from Ornithodoros spp. tick as a vector in the United States.
• Clarifies information included in the description of the persistence of the ASF virus.
• Defines the incubation period for exposed individual pigs. Describes the time for lateral spread and detection within an exposed herd or group.
• Reflects an updated case definition.
• Emphasizes the role of contact tracing in an epidemiologic investigation.
• Addresses and integrates policy from APHIS’ response to the 2022 United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) ASF resolutions for:
  • Authorization for indemnity and depopulation response time;
  • ASF detection in domestic pig as a trigger for a 72-Hour National Movement Standstill;
  • Resumption of domestic movement options at ‘Hour 73’;
  • Adopting standardized guidelines for harvesting establishments;
  • Establish national standardized permitting guidance for Control Areas; and
  • Restocking requirements in a Control Area.
• Introduces the Meat Harvest, Off-site Rendering, and Spray Dried Blood / Plasma Facility Plans.
• Introduces and describes the Domestic Pig and Feral Swine Incident Playbooks.
• References the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan.
• Introduces the Certified Swine Sample Collector Program.
• Corrects comments made and any errors identified in the prior version. Updates references throughout, as necessary.