Pig producers and governments have beefed up their defenses against the disease.Ottawa—The discovery of pigs in the Dominican Republic infected with African swine fever (ASF) means the deadly disease has finally arrived in the Americas and Canada will step up its guard against it reaching here.Mary Jane Ireland, Canada's Chief Veterinary Officer, said the CFIA is closely monitoring the situation in the Dominican Republic and working with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to strengthen border controls for the Caribbean. Canada does not import pork and pork products from the Dominican Republic. Both she and Rick Bergmann, Chair of the Canadian Pork Council, said the discovery of ASF in the Dominican Republic underscores the need for continued and strengthened vigilance to prevent its spread to elsewhere in the Americas.Canada held an international conference in Ottawa in 2019 to build cooperation among the countries of the Americas on keeping ASF out of the region. Ireland said, “We will continue to work with the pork industry and our international partners, ensuring high levels of biosecurity to prevent further global spread of ASF.”Bergmann said ASF has spread throughout pork-producing countries in Europe and Asia. While it poses no risk to humans or other animals, an outbreak here “could devastate the Canadian pig herd, placing farm families and tens of thousands of jobs along the entire value chain at risk. A single, positive case could result in the immediate suspension of pork and pig exports valued at more than $5 billion in 2020.”In 2019, CBSA increased the number of detector dog teams, enhanced public communications about the risks associated with illegal meat imports and controlled imports of unprocessed grain and oilseeds from ASF-infected countries.Bergmann said while much progress has been made on a Canadian ASF action plan, “there remain opportunities to eradicate wild pigs, enhance biosecurity and develop the response policies and programs that will be needed should there ever be a Canadian outbreak. We look forward to collaborating with the Canadian government to further strengthen our capacity to maintain the health of our Canadian pig herd and pork industry.”At their recent virtual meeting, the federal and provincial agriculture ministers agreed “to make ASF preparedness and response planning a priority.” John Ross, CPC executive director, said the ministers' statement “reflects a continued commitment to our collective focus on preventing/preparing and, if needed, responding to an ASF outbreak. Our current efforts continue to be guided by the ASF Action Plan.” Work on the plan has continued through the Covid-19 pandemic. “Lots has been accomplished but there is still work to be done.” Planning the response to an ASF outbreak in Canada still needs to be fully addressed. The hog sector contributes more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and generates about $28 billion to the Canadian economy. In 2020, Canada exported 1.49 million tonnes of pork to 95 countries at a total value of over $5 billion.ASF cannot be transmitted to humans and does not pose a risk to food safety, he said. Canadian pork is safe to eat. However the disease is deadly for pigs and is transmitted through both direct and indirect contact with infected pigs, pork and pork by-products. There is no treatment or vaccine for ASF.Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.