A qualitative pathway analysis of two US pork harvest facilities identified 42 potential African Swine Fever transmission pathways, of which 39 were unmitigated or of unknown mitigation status.
A pathway analysis of US pork harvest facilities identified 39 unmitigated or unknown pathways for African Swine Fever transmission, highlighting priorities for biosecurity improvements.
Proactive disease transmission pathway analyses break complex transmission routes into simpler steps, making risks and uncertainties easier to identify. This approach is especially valuable for African Swine Fever (ASF), a difficult-to-control disease in low-biosecurity settings or when biosecurity practices are inconsistently applied. To support targeted biosecurity planning, a pathway analysis was conducted that is specific to pork harvest facilities in the United States. The analysis focused on two federally inspected plants that slaughter market hogs and produce primal cuts. Inputs, outputs, and potential transmission pathways were identified through a literature review, site visits, and facility personnel interviews. Because ASF virus remains stable at low temperatures and in many pork products, particular attention was given to pathways involving storage conditions, waste materials, and processing steps such as heating or pH modification. Processing steps were evaluated against existing process control plans and ASF inactivation thresholds to determine mitigation status. Of 42 identified pathways, 39 were classified as unmitigated or of unknown mitigation status. These unmitigated or unknown pathways—broadly involving pigs, people, vehicles, and waste—represent the highest priorities for further risk assessment work and for exploring ways to develop or strengthen biosecurity protocols that reduce ASF transmission.
Martin et al. (Thu,) conducted a other in African Swine Fever (n=2). Qualitative pathway analysis was evaluated on Mitigation status of identified transmission pathways. A qualitative pathway analysis of two US pork harvest facilities identified 42 potential African Swine Fever transmission pathways, of which 39 were unmitigated or of unknown mitigation status.