An outbreak of high‐impact animal disease, like african swine fever (ASF), in the united states will require rapid coordinated response with large‐scale depopulation, carcass disposal, and…

An outbreak of high‐impact animal disease, like african swine fever (ASF), in the united states will require rapid coordinated response with large‐scale depopulation, carcass disposal, and decontamination. Oklahoma has numerous commercial swine production facilities that have established protocols for virus management. Current biosecurity protocols involve the burial of swine carcasses in shallow trenches with carbon, and previous research that simulated this procedure identified a diversity of carrion‐feeding insects and quantified the mass emergence of flies that serve as mechanical viral vectors, increasing the risk of virus transmission post‐burial. In addition to challenges from continued presence and spread of infectious virus by insects, oklahoma also has small‐scale family farms that include 4‐H participants with show pigs. A coordinated response to an outbreak in remote locations is further complicated by undocumented HOG populations and land ownership, with more than 60% of the state distributed among 38 sovereign nations. In this context, a multistakeholder approach with special attention to providing private citizens with best management practices is critical. To fill these data gaps, we will work with tribal partners, livestock show coordinators, and oklahoma state university extension services to survey PIG ownership among oklahoma residents. To provide backyard‐scale guidance on carcass disposal, we will assess the response of carrion‐feeding insect communities to individually buried PIG carcasses and determine the efficacy of readily‐available retail insecticide and essential oil treatments to suppress potential fly vectors at carcasses. Lastly, we will conduct laboratory experiments to determine viral persistence and vector competencies of flies with 6 veterinary‐relevant viruses, including the swinepox virus, an ASF surrogate previously employed in USDA‐aphis projects. This project will result in improved emergency response to remote viral outbreaks that may have a negative economic impact on commercial swine production and will lead to a report, publications, and workshops and webinars for state responders and tribal partners.