[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 49 (Monday, March 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 12800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6227]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 49 / Monday, March 15, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 12800]]


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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. 99-6227 Filed 3-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P