Source: American Association of Swine Veterinarians
The Swine Health Information Center continues to prioritize high-impact, urgent return on investment projects to monitor, predict, prepare and respond to emerging diseases. Members of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and all swine industry stakeholders are invited and encouraged to provide input into the SHIC 2018 Plan of Work, providing direction for upcoming priorities. “Think big. Don’t be constrained by difficulty or cost in your visioning,” says Paul Sundberg, SHIC executive director.

Emerging diseases remain the primary concern for SHIC. These include diseases being introduced into the United States, such as porcine epidemic diarrhea in 2013, or endemic diseases already present but changed in some manner with significant health and/or profitability impacts, such as Seneca Valley A which emerged in 2015.

As you consider priorities for emerging disease projects, use the following questions to inspire your input to SHIC. However, do not limit your consideration to these topics. SHIC desires stakeholders’ most visionary suggestions to benefit the health of the U.S. swine herd.

• What are the most common ways diseases are introduced to your pigs and sows? What is needed to change this?

• Within your production systems, how do structure, practices and the movement of pigs inhibit your ability to quickly limit the impact of an emerging disease? What is needed to change this?

• What does the industry need to be able to predict emerging diseases?

○ What type of communication channels are needed and how would it be best to pass those communications on to you?

○ Would pathogen surveys of different inputs or animal flows help you manage disease?

○ What are industry responsibilities versus USDA/SAHO responsibilities? What’s the best way to reconcile them?

○ Are there additional diagnostics capabilities needed? What type of diagnostics tools or capabilities will help you manage disease?

• Is preventing a newly emerging disease realistic?

○ What are the metrics that can be used to measure/demonstrate prevention?

○ What does the industry need to be able to prevent emerging diseases?

• What does the industry need to be able to quickly limit the impact of emerging diseases?

○ What are the major limitations to meeting these needs?

Provide your input for the SHIC 2018 Plan of Work to Sundberg. Email [email protected] or call 515-598-4553. Alternatively, you are welcome to share your suggestions with any member of the SHIC Board of Directors.

Contributions to this process are needed by Dec. 15.

Funded by America’s pork producers to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd, the Swine Health Information Center focuses its efforts on prevention, preparedness, and response. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research for the benefit of swine health. For more information, visit the SHIC website or contact Sundberg.