More U.S. Inspectors Expected at Points of Entry

WASHINGTON, DC – As China deals with the deadly human coronavirus, they also continue to deal with the deadly African swine fever (ASF) which does not affect human health. Thanks to legislation agreed to by Congress last week, the U.S. will have more agricultural inspectors at land, air, and seaports to prevent ASF and other foreign animal diseases (FAD) from entering the United States. The bill including funding for 720 more inspectors and also authorizes 600 new agricultural technicians and 60 new agricultural canine teams. Since the most likely path for a FAD to enter the country would be through the illegal transport of contaminated products, the new inspectors will provide more resources in identifying any potential threats in the future. With no medical solution to ASF, the result has been a more than 50 percent loss in the Chinese hog herd in the past eighteen months.