U of M researchers lead major breakthrough to combat African swine fever

University of Minnesota researchers recently led successful efforts to work on African swine fever virus (ASFV) and developed and validate a surrogate virus for ASFV, a disease that has devastated pig populations and pork production in countries around the world. The lab’s work represents a major breakthrough in efforts to develop effective mitigation strategies to control ASFV and keep it from entering North America. 

The team, led by Gerald Shurson, PhD, a professor in animal science, and Declan Schroeder, PhD, an associate professor from the College of Veterinary Medicine, used a novel testing method to measure and compare the two viruses based on their ability to survive and potentially become infectious under various environmental conditions. Read the full news release.