A U.S. outbreak would likely slash American pork exports and pig prices, hurting rural farmers and meat companies like Tyson Foods Inc.

African swine fever is harmless to humans but often deadly to pigs, leading to financial losses for farms. Governments also often block pork imports from countries where the disease has been found to prevent transmission.

The USDA said it would commit funds from its Commodity Credit Corporation spending authority to expand and coordinate monitoring and surveillance for the disease, along with other efforts.

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