As the threat of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) looms on the mind of any pork producer, Kansas State researchers are going to task on determining early discovery and methods of outbreak prevention before the disease can enter the U.S. The National Pork Board recently gave a grant to Kansas State Assistant Professor Megan Niederwerder to lead a $513,000 research project focusing on ASFV. The project focuses on contamination points and methods to decontaminate the farm once pigs are infected.

Neiderwerder says a 10-year outbreak would cost the U.S. pork industry $50 billion, whereas a virus only lasting two years would cost $15 billion. However, she says the goal is to shorten the virus’ lifespan to a single year or even a single farm. After the disease devasted Chinese hog herds in 2018, researchers have become more concerned with a possible entrance to the U.S. Producers are instructed to always look for ASFV symptoms within their herd, such as a very high fever, lethargy, reddening, blotchiness in the perinatal areas, discoloring in the hindquarters and inability to rise.

Read more on ASF and prevention research here.