African swine fever is spreading across China and parts of southeast Asia. University of Minnesota Professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine John Deen says the greater the pathogen load China has, the greater the risk to the U.S. swine industry. “I think we need to work to continue better understanding the virus in more detail. We’ve been working with the Swine Health Information Center to actually summarize on a monthly basis the extent of the threat and steps being taken in different countries to control it.” Deen says the severity of the virus continues to be acknowledged in the decline of China’s overall hog herd. “Certain provinces have seen estimates as high as a reduction of 40 percent to their pig population.”
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