ASF Vaccine Research Ramp Up
The U.S. pork industry is in a race to develop a vaccine for African swine fever (ASF), investing public and private funds to protect domestic herds from the deadly disease. Here are some of the studies we are tracking.
• USDA announced an ASF vaccine candidate passed an important safety test required for regulatory approval as it does not revert to its normal virulence. This moves the vaccine candidate one step closer to commercial availability and testing in Vietnam.
• NPB is investing $930,000 of Pork Checkoff funds in four different studies that include validating vaccine types, tracking efficacy or effectiveness, and ensuring viability for commercialization.
• Genvax Technologies received a $145,000 grant from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research to develop a self-amplifying messenger RNA vaccine for ASF. Genvax contributed matching funds for a total investment of $290,000.
• Purdue University received a $1 million grant to create a rapid test for ASF. The grant was awarded by the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program.
While this research is underway, U.S. producers can prepare for a potential ASF outbreak by creating an AgView account.
AgView is a pig-contact-tracing platform funded by the Pork Checkoff. It provides herd health and movement data to state and federal animal health officials to help minimize disruption and promote business continuity in case of an ASF outbreak.
