Attending the Annual Meeting? Prioritize Biosecurity!

February 24, 2020 — 

As you finalize your travel plans to attend AASV's 51st Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, please remember to do your part to protect the U.S. swine herd from foreign animal diseases, including African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever (CSF), and foot and mouth disease (FMD).

If you are traveling from a country or have recently visited a country with cases of ASF, CSF, or FMD, remember to prioritize biosecurity:

• Declare international farm visits upon entry into the United States
• Do not bring prohibited foods into the United States
• Follow farm biosecurity measures and downtime requirements (recommended minimum 5 nights with no swine contact) if visiting a U.S. farm
• Do not wear any items, including footwear, from your international farm visit to a U.S. farm

Declaring Farm Visits in ASF, CSF, or FMD Positive Countries to Customs

When returning to the United States after visiting a farm or being in contact with animals in a country (or countries) with African swine fever, or any other foreign animal disease, you should declare this information to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol via written form, airport kiosk, or verbally. Then you should be diverted for an ag secondary screening by an ag specialist. The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, and American Association of Swine Veterinarians are asking you to report your experience if you are not diverted for secondary screening with return to the United States following overseas travel.

If you are NOT diverted for secondary screening after declaring you have been on a farm or in contact with animals in an ASF or other foreign animal disease positive nation, please email the following to psundberg@swinehealth.org:

• Your name (optional - please specify if you do NOT want your name shared)
• Country (or countries) visited
• Date and time of return
• Airline and flight number
• Arrival airport
• Declaration method (written form, kiosk, or verbal)
• Customs and Border Patrol employee name, if possible (displayed on right side of shirt)
• Any other pertinent circumstances

Dr. Sundberg will be aggregating this information and the organizations will share with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to help identify any weaknesses in their protocol and systems.

2019 Novel Coronavirus and International Travel

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is rapidly evolving. AASV is following CDC guidelines and will continue to monitor for any changes in recommendations.

According to the CDC, the risk of COVID-19 in the United States is low. Imported cases in travelers have been detected in the US. Person-to-person transmission has been seen among close contacts of returned travelers from China. The virus is not currently circulating in the community in the US.

The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China and South Korea (Level 3 Travel Warning). The United States has implemented the following travel restrictions to people traveling from China:

1. Foreign nationals who have visited China in the past 14 days may not enter the United States.
2. American citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their families who have been in China in the past 14 days will be allowed to enter the United States, but will be redirected to one of 11 airports to undergo health screening. Depending on their health and travel history, they will have some level of restrictions on their movements for 14 days from the time they left China.

For the most up to date information regarding the outbreak and any travel announcements, visit CDC's COVID-19 webpage.

It's important to remember that the risk of COVID-19 infection is associated with recent travel to China or other areas with sustained community transmission, not with groups of people or certain ethnicities. People who have not recently traveled to China or been in contact with a person who has a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 are not at greater risk of acquiring and spreading COVID-19. People who have returned from China more than 14 days ago and do not have symptoms are not infected with the virus.

As biosecurity is critical for animal health, infection prevention best practices are important for human health, too:

• Get an annual influenza vaccine as recommended by the CDC,
• Avoid travel and stay home if sick,
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,
• Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not accessible,
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissues or your arm (not hand)

If you experience fever, cough, or shortness of breath, contact your medical provider and report any recent travel.