World Grain - March 2023 - 70

FEATURE: PREPARING FOR AFRICAN SWINE FEVER
If an animal exhibits signs of a foreign animal disease,
an investigation would begin with the animal health official
visiting the site and collecting samples. If samples
taken from the symptomatic animal are positive, it is considered
a presumptive positive.
The state would begin an epidemiological investigation,
including what has moved onto and out of that site
over the past 30 days. Additional analysis also would be
done to confirm the test results.
If a second sample tests positive, it is considered a
confirmed positive sample and some significant decisions
need to be made, Jones said. The US Secretary of
Agriculture would be expected to declare an extraordinary
emergency, which gives it some additional authority
and access to different resources.
The infected premises would be quarantined, and control
zones established with enhanced biosecurity around
those areas and restricted access in and out.
We don't believe that feed
or ingredients are the most
likely way disease enters the
US, but it is a likely way
that it can be spread.
Cassandra Jones, professor/ASI teaching
coordinator, Kansas State University
" There would be a national standstill on the movement
of pigs, " Jones said. " It's expected to be at least 72 hours.
That is not something to be taken lightly. It allows all
state and federal officials to take samples of the animals
where they are located and be able to make better decisions
of which areas of the country can reopen to regular
movement. "
Active and passive surveillance activities would be established
so control zones can be made as small as possible,
Jones said.
" We may start with the size of the state, then with sampling
and surveillance, we would be able to narrow that
closer and closer, maybe to an individual farm, " she said.
Jones said during the standstill it's unlikely that feed
deliveries will be stopped. That means it may be necessary
to deliver feed to a known-positive premise to ensure
animal welfare is maintained until euthanasia can happen.
There's not a clear answer on whether swine-based
ingredient movements will be stopped, Jones said. It is
expected that FSIS-inspected facilities (raw and processed
pork) will be exempt from movement restrictions.
However, products from Food and Drug Administration
70
inspected rendering floors (porcine meat, bone meal and
choice white grease) may be restricted.
Eradication
Eradication uses strategies that stabilize animal agriculture,
the human food supply, the economy, public health
and the environment. There would be mass depopulation
of infected premises, cleaning and disinfection of any
cleanable materials.
Feed on an infected farm is not considered cleanable,
so if feed had just been delivered to that farm, it would
have to be disposed of safely. There are limited options
available, Jones said. Ideally, it could be composted on
site, but it's unlikely a facility would have enough room
for carcasses and feed.
" Feed and the pig themselves don't mix very well, " she
said. " The perfect mixture to break down carcasses is high
in fiber and that's not something in swine feed. Carcasses
would have priority, so we have to find options to move
feed off site. "
The feed would need to be transported as biohazardous
waste to a permitted landfill. Other possible options
for feed disposal include fixed incineration or open-air
burning.
Rendering carcasses may be difficult because the facility
would need to have enhanced biosecurity where personnel
cannot move from " dirty " to " clean " areas without
decontamination. Not all facilities are prepared to do that,
Jones said.
Rendered products from carcass disposal could be used
in pet food, if specifically authorized, she said, otherwise
it would have to be disposed of through composting, landfilling
or recycling at a cement kiln.
Business continuity
Business continuity provides science- and risk-based
approaches to restart business for non-infected animals
and non-contaminated products, Jones said. For pigs, the
Secure Pork Supply Plan provides guidance for the managed
movement of animals.
It requires that the premises of origin and destination
have a National Premises Identification Number (PIN)
along with enhanced biosecurity measures and traceback/
forward information confirming the origin is not an infected,
suspected or contacted site. Surveillance would
need to confirm no evidence of infection. This includes
active observational surveillance for at least seven days;
negative diagnostic tests within 24 hours of movement;
and visual inspection of animals by a regulatory official.
Business continuity is a gap that the feed industry can
start making some progress on in terms of providing some
of the science- and risk-based approaches to facilitate continuity
of business, Jones said.
" What happens to the feed and to the ingredients in the
March 2023 / World Grain / World-Grain.com
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World Grain - March 2023

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