Swine Health Information Center Inc

Programs: Make industry swine health information available to help uncover, communicate, and mitigate regional and national risks to herd health. Survey for pathogens at first points of concentration, such as packing plants and market buying stations, to identify pathogens and emerging diseases and uncover regional differences that might be able to be used in predicting disease risk and current outbreaks models. Refine domestic swine disease monitoring and reporting. Inform the industry about emerging diseases or syndromes that might look like an isolated incident to help producers evaluate and prepare for health risks, supporting the development of an effective disease risk and outbreak model. Investigate newly identified agents associated with disease, and understand the clinical relevance and epidemiology of novel viruses in the swine disease matrix so that veterinary diagnostic labs can continue to find these viruses in the matrix to identify if they are associated with cinical disease syndromes. Beter understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenicity of the agents are important to identifying if they have a role in the clinical disease. Offer diagnostic fee support to help detect emerging diseases so they are quickly and accurately identified for action by the industry.

decrease the potential for pathogen transmission via feed using proof-of-concept research to identify higher risk virus by feed component combinations. Research feed additives for their ability to reduce virus load in feeds and test the results under farm feeding conditions to obtain objective information about the risk of pathogen transport via imported feed products. Develop validated feed component sampling procedures focused on biologics to confidently sample feed components for virus contamination and prevent a spread within the country during feed processing. Initiate a pilot project based on test research for an effective way to monitor feed processing facilities for swine viral pathogens involving effective feed mill clean out or disinfection procedures and blockchain technology to record, audit, and verify feed biosecurity from imported sources.

identify high risk events likely to be responsible for introducing emerging diseases onto farms. Refine and enhance the rapid response program completed in 2017, which helps producers and veterinarians respond to and manage newly emerging diseases and to make it as responsive and efficient as possible by investigating epidemiologically distinct incidents of endemic disease outbreaks and automating and streamlining the rapid response investigation process. Improve communications so people know actionables in the event of an emerging disease, the communications pathway that will facilitate rapid response to an emerging disease, and the resources available to help detect, prepare, and respond to emerging diseases on the farm. Quickly research pathogens causing emerging disease outbreaks.