Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) personnel said the agency is aiding the scientific community and government decision-makers in proactive African Swine Fever approaches.
“Just because a disease isn’t currently present in the United States, doesn’t mean it isn’t a potential threat or that we shouldn’t be prepared,” Lloyd Hough, who leads DHS S&T’s Hazard Awareness & Characterization Technology Center, said. “The rapid spread of COVID-19 demonstrated how quickly a small outbreak occurring overseas can explode into a massive epidemic disrupting our daily lives.”
Hough led the development of the ASF MQL with S&T’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), where DHS collaborates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct African Swine Fever research and countermeasure testing, evaluation, and development.
“This work may prove vital since ASF reemerged recently in China and continues to impact other parts of the globe significantly,” Hough said. “This is the first time we are creating a master question list for an animal disease. We are proactively looking for knowledge gaps with our partners as the virus continues to be a significant threat internationally. Together, DHS and USDA and our partners have recognized this and expanded the ASF research footprint, while the MQL helps us make the most of limited resources.”