African Swine Fever (ASF) Response

Ready Reference Guide—

Overview of the Response Plan: The Red Book

May 2020 USDA APHIS Veterinary Services • Na�onal Preparedness and Incident Coordina�on (NPIC) 1 of 2

4700 River Road Unit 42 • Riverdale, MD 20737

Introduction

This document provides a brief overview of the new ASF Response Plan: The Red Book (April 2020). The ASF Response Plan provides 

the best known strategic guidance for USDA APHIS and responders at all levels in the event of an ASF outbreak occurring in 

domestic or feral swine. Please see the full ASF Response Plan for further information, located at www.aphis.usda.gov/fadprep. 

Goals of a ASF Response

The goals of an ASF response are to

1. detect, control, and contain ASF in swine as quickly as possible;

2. eradicate ASF using strategies that seek to stabilize animal agriculture, the food 

supply, the economy, and to protect public health and the environment; and

3. provide science- and risk-based approaches and systems to facilitate con�nuity of 

business for non-infected animals and non-contaminated animal products.

Achieving these three goals will allow individual swine facilities, States, Tribes, regions, and industries to resume normal production 

as quickly as possible. The objective is to allow the United States to regain disease-free status without the response effort causing 

more disruption and damage than the disease outbreak itself. 

Four Epidemiological Principals of Response

Four basic epidemiological principles form the foundation to contain, control, and eradicate ASF in the U.S. swine population:

1. Prevent contact between ASF virus (ASFV) and swine. This is accomplished through

a. quaran�ne of infected swine and movement controls in the Control Area (Infected Zone [IZ] + Buffer Zone [BZ]),

b. u�liza�on of Network-Based Controls (NBCs), and

c. enhanced biosecurity procedures that include preven�ng contact between feral swine and domes�c swine.

2. Stop the production of ASFV by infected or exposed swine. This is accomplished by mass depopula�on (and disposal) of 

infected and poten�ally infected swine; priori�za�on may increase effec�veness.

3. Stop the transmission of ASFV by vectors.

4. Prevent ASFV from becoming established in feral swine populations.

Response Strategies

The United States’ primary control and eradication strategy for ASF in swine is the establishment of quarantines and movement 

controls with eradication by stamping-out. There is currently no effective vaccine available for ASFV in domestic swine. APHIS 

acknowledges that there may be significant challenges to eradicate ASF, depending on the outbreak (e.g., if feral swine are 

infected). The following table provides an overview of the primary response strategies for both domestic and feral swine. 

Overview of ASF Response Strategies in Domes�c and Feral Swine

Domestic Swine Feral Swine

Primary Control Strategy Control Areas around Infected Premises Control Areas around Infected Pigs

 Focus Preven�ng ASFV from coming in contact with 

suscep�ble swine

Limi�ng viral spread & transmission through the 

establishment of Control Areas

 Supported primarily by Quaran�ne and movement controls, 

enhanced biosecurity

Surveillance, immediate carcass removal and 

disposal

 Control Area Size Minimum 5km (3km IZ + 2km BZ) Minimum 5km (3km IZ + 2km BZ)

Primary Eradication Strategy Stamping-out* Stamping-out* with Popula�on Reduc�on

*Stamping-out is the depopula�on of clinically affected and in-contact swine. Infected Pigs will be depopulated in the quickest, safest, and most humane way 

possible. To be most effec�ve in stopping the disease transmission, it may be necessary to priori�ze depopula�on based on clinical signs and epidemiological 

informa�on. Stamping-out will require a well-planned and proac�ve coordinated public awareness campaign. 
African Swine Fever (ASF) Response

Ready Reference Guide—

Overview of the Response Plan: The Red Book

May 2020 USDA APHIS Veterinary Services • Na�onal Preparedness and Incident Coordina�on (NPIC) 2 of 2

4700 River Road Unit 42 • Riverdale, MD 20737

Authorization for Response Activities

When the criteria for a presumptive positive ASF case have been met, the APHIS Administrator or VS Deputy Administrator can 

authorize APHIS personnel—in conjunction with State, Tribal, and unified Incident Command personnel—to initiate certain 

response activities of the index case (Infected Premises or Infected Pig), including an epidemiological investigation of Contact 

Premises. 

Upon ASFV confirmation by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, the 

Secretary of Agriculture will

 take immediate steps to declare an Extraordinary Emergency;

 issue a National Movement Standstill of at least 72 hours with a detection in domestic or feral swine;

 authorize depopulation of Infected Premises; and

 authorize payment for virus elimination at a uniform, flat rate, based on the size of the affected premises.

Coordinated Public Awareness Campaign

In an ASF outbreak, a public awareness campaign must be effectively coordinated with audience-appropriate information both 

created and distributed. This supports the response strategy by

 engaging and leveraging stakeholder relationships to provide unified public messages for all audiences;

 addressing the issues and concerns relating to food safety, public health, and animal welfare;

 addressing issues and concerns related to interstate commerce, continuity of business, and international trade; and

 widely disseminating key communication messages to consumers and producers.

Movement Controls

A temporary hold order, a quarantine and/or some type of stop movement will be immediately issued on a premises by State 

authority, or Tribal authority, upon strong suspicion of ASF on a premises. Each State’s animal health emergency response plan 

should describe implementation along with considerations for the highly-integrated swine industry. 

National Movement Standstill

A National Movement Standstill is a complete stop in live swine movement across the United States. It 

is intended to allow States, Tribes, and industry to gather initial critical information for a unified 

approach to an ASF response, while inhibiting further virus transmission before effective disease 

control measures can be successfully implemented. A National Movement Standstill

 is issued by USDA upon confirmation of ASF in commercial swine for at least 72 hours,

 is effective only if all parties involved understand the reasons and goals, and have planned for it.

Network Based Controls

Network Based Controls (NBCs) are designed to be used in combination with traditional Control Areas to assist in limiting the

spread of ASFV. NBCs will target response resources to high risk epidemiologically-linked premises in an effort to rapidly detect new 

cases. All premises that are tracked/linked to an Infected Premises are subject to Control Area restrictions and diagnostic testing. 

What Else Will Occur During an ASF Response?

Critical activities and tools must be implemented to execute and support any response strategy. These activities and tools must 

support a science- and risk-based approach that protects public health, animal health, the environment, and stabilizes animal 

agriculture and the economy. Some of the critical activities that will be employed are as follows:

 Diagnosis and Reporting

 Surveillance

 Epidemiological Investigation and Tracing

 Quarantine and Movement Control

 Continuity of Business (Secure Pork Supply Plan)

 Information Management

 Public Communication and Messaging Campaign

 Health and Safety

 Biosecurity

 3D (Depopulation, Disposal, Decontamination) Activities

 Wildlife Management & Vector Control

 Indemnity & Compensation