The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service calls the discovery of African swine fever in Haiti unfortunate, but not unexpected. Monday, a case of ASF was reported to the World Organization for Animal Health after confirmed by USDA's Plum Island, New York, facility.
The sample was collected from a pig in a province bordering the Dominican Republic, where ASF was discovered this summer. In a statement, APHIS said it has numerous interlocking safeguards in place to prevent ASF from entering the United States.
Pork and pork products from Haiti and the Dominican Republic are prohibited entry to the United States because of existing classical swine fever restrictions.
After ASF was detected in the Dominican Republic, APHIS increased surveillance and safeguards in U.S. territories. APHIS continues to work with partners, including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. swine industry, to prevent ASF from entering the United States.