USDA issues federal order to establish FAD ASF Protection Zone in Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands

This Federal Order, effective today, is the final action in a series of safeguards needed to establish an African Swine Fever (ASF) protection zone in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. APHIS is taking this action out of an abundance of caution to further safeguard the U.S. swine herd and protect the interests and livelihoods of U.S. pork producers. ASF has not been detected in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and we continue to coordinate with both territories to increase education and outreach and improve biosecurity. On July 28, APHIS confirmed ASF in samples collected from pigs in the Dominican Republic through an existing cooperative surveillance program. After confirmation, APHIS quickly increased existing surveillance and mitigations within Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On August 26, APHIS announced its intent to establish a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)-recognized foreign animal disease protection zone around Puerto Rico and the U.S. ...