ASF confirmed in Haiti as thousands of migrants swarm the U.S. Border

Haiti has reported its first outbreak of African swine fever in 37 years, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) says. It details that the outbreak began Aug. 25 near the city of Anse-a-Pitre near Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic, which reported its first case of the virus in July. USDA confirmed Haiti’s outbreak last week, OIE said.

The presence of the virus in the Americas paired with a surge in Haitian migrants at the U.S. southern border heightens concern the highly contagious disease could make its way to the U.S.

President Joe Biden has asked the Pentagon to send military to the border to help with the surge. Single adults are likely to be flown back to Haiti, but families will be released into the country.