African swine fever, a highly contagious disease with no cure, is affecting global pork production, particularly in Europe, Asia, and recently the western hemisphere. To prevent its entry into the U.S., where the pork industry is worth $7.7 billion, the USDA has allocated $500 million for surveillance. China experienced a $111 billion loss from the disease in 2019. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with its presence in affected regions, is leading research on the disease, focusing on epidemiology, diagnostics, socio-economic impacts, and developing a vaccine using CRISPR-Cas technology. ILRI's efforts, in collaboration with global partners, aim to provide solutions for managing and controlling African swine fever.
