Planning a Caribbean Getaway? Don’t Give a Fatal Swine Disease a Free Ride
Summer is always a prime time for vacations, and many dream of a beach getaway. This year, travel trends suggest folks are budget-conscious and may be sticking closer to home for their beach time, opting for destinations like Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
If you’re one of the lucky ones heading off to catch some sun in the next few months, remember—what you bring back matters. Fruits, vegetables, and meat can carry harmful plant pests and animal diseases, such as African swine fever (ASF), that threaten U.S. agriculture. Your choices help protect our farms and food supply.
What is ASF?
ASF is a highly contagious and fatal disease that affects pigs. It poses no risk to human health, but people can unknowingly spread the disease through contaminated items, such as clothing, shoes, and even food, e.g., pasteles, empanadas, sausage, or ham. Since ASF has been detected in neighboring Caribbean countries, like the Dominican Republic and Haiti, travelers need to be aware.
We need all travelers to help keep our country safe from this disease. While packing your bags to return home, there is one thing you need to leave behind: pork.
How You Can Help Keep ASF Out of the U.S.
Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to protect your home from ASF and ensure your summer travel goes smoothly:
- Don’t pack pork — When traveling between Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. mainland, don't pack or ship pork products of any kind.
- If it oinks, stay away — Avoid any contact with pigs. If you must be around them, clean and disinfect your clothing and shoes before coming home.
- Prepare to declare — Present all food and other agricultural items to the USDA inspector at the airport before you leave Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Five-day delay — Wait at least five days after returning from a trip before visiting any farms, petting zoos, or locations with pigs.
Before jetting off to paradise, make sure you’re up to speed on all things ASF by checking out this link: www.aphis.usda.gov/traveling-with-ag-products/asf
