Emergency declarations: Dominican Republic and Haiti— Classical swine fever,

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[Federal Register: March 15, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 49)]

[Notices]

[Page 12800]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr15mr99-25]

Notices Federal Register

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.

[[Page 12800]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. 98-115-1]

Declaration of Emergency Because of Classical Swine Fever (Hog Cholera) in the Dominican Republic and Haiti

A serious outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF), commonly known as hog cholera in the United States, is occurring in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. CSF was confirmed in Haiti in October 1996, and in the Dominican Republic in June 1997.

CSF, a highly contagious viral disease of swine, was eradicated from the United States in 1978 after a 16-year effort by industry and Federal and State Governments. If a similar eradication effort were attempted today, the estimated cost would exceed $500 million. While CSF does not cause illness in people, the more virulent strains can cause high morbidity and mortality in pigs. The less virulent strains can typically cause diarrhea, severe growth retardation, and reproductive losses. CSF is currently found in 36 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. The reintroduction of this disease into the United States could devastate the U.S. pork industry.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the U.S. pork industry have recently determined that CSF in the Dominican Republic and Haiti poses a risk to the U.S. swine population. The primary risk to U.S. swine is through the illegal movement of swine and meat products, such as sausage, by airline passengers coming into the United States from the Dominican Republic. The CSF virus can survive for several months in pickled meat and for several years in smoked and frozen meat.

To protect the multi-billion dollar U.S. pork industry, including 600,000 jobs, and to maintain the Nation's food security and the pork and pork product export market valued at more than $1 billion, APHIS has already begun to respond to the CSF risk. The Agency has provided technical assistance to both the Dominican Republic and Haiti; enhanced passenger and baggage inspections on flights arriving from these two countries; and increased inspections of garbage feeders in Puerto Rico.

APHIS needs an additional $5.3 million to take adequate precautions against the introduction of CSF into the United States. Activities that would be funded by the additional money include an inspection program in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, a veterinarian stationed on the Island of Hispaniola, and enhanced surveillance of swine herds in the United States.

Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of September 25, 1981, 95 Stat. (7 U.S.C. 147b), I declare that there is an emergency which threatens the swine population of the United States and hereby authorize the transfer and use of such funds as may be necessary from appropriations or other funds available to the agencies or corporations of the United States Department of Agriculture for the conduct of a program to enhance surveillance activities and prevent the introduction of CSF into the United States.

Effective date: This declaration of emergency shall become effective March 9, 1999. Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture.

[FR Doc. 99-6227Filed3-12-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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