Hoosier Ag Today: Purdue Receives $1 Million Grant To Develop African Swine Fever Rapid Test
Purdue University has received a $1 million grant to develop a rapid test to find African Swine Flu in pigs.
That grant has been provided to Purdue by the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program.
The research funding was included in the U.S. Farm Bill to build up the nation’s ability to quickly detect and respond to high-consequence diseases.
African swine fever, a highly contagious swine disease, is currently found in the Dominican Republic. The disease does not infect people, but it can wipe out pork production in a region. Quick identification and containment are key to stopping its spread, and a team of Purdue University researchers are developing a rapid, pen-side test for the disease.
Mohit Verma, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue, will lead the project.
“A rapid test that can be done in the field is needed for surveillance and diagnosis of African swine fever,” said Verma. “When it hit China a few years ago, it wiped out 50% of the country’s pig population. It is a devastating disease, and hours, even minutes, matter in containing it.”