{"id":1612,"date":"2022-10-17T10:48:55","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T15:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4starvets.com\/?p=1612"},"modified":"2022-10-17T10:48:55","modified_gmt":"2022-10-17T15:48:55","slug":"its-time-to-prepare-for-swine-foreign-animal-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4starvets.com\/its-time-to-prepare-for-swine-foreign-animal-diseases\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s time to prepare for swine foreign animal diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Bret Marsh, Indiana State Veterinarian, spoke about the threat of a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak in the United States at the Four Star Veterinary Service Pork Industry Conference held in Fort Wayne, Indiana in mid-September.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about preparation as it relates to foreign animal disease, and the challenges we could be faced with in this state and across the country along with identifying some of the challenges that are going on around the globe,\u201d said Dr. Marsh.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In the map above, red indicates where African swine fever (ASF) exists around the globe; green is ASF-free.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is where it\u2019s reported. My guess is it probably exists places that are not reported in red on this map. But as you can see, we have large portions of the globe that are green. We are fortunate here in North America to be in the green, but this virus has been on the move. And it’s presented some very unique challenges globally,\u201d said Dr. Marsh.<\/p>\n

ASF was first diagnosed in the continent of Africa in the 1930s. When it spread, a few countries like Spain and Portugal had success in eradicating the virus in the 1960s. However, virus spread has taken off in recent years, especially when China announced a diagnosis in August 2018. The Chinese outbreak and rapid spread across their provinces put North America on a higher level of awareness. The 2021 diagnosis of ASF in the Dominican Republic and Haiti suddenly put the virus much closer to the US border.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis challenge exists not only for us here but anywhere on the continent and in South America,\u201d he said. \u201cThis virus is a tough one. It’s a virus built to survive in the environment for long periods of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

ASF virus remains active in Dominican Republic and Haiti.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, based on the last reports I’ve heard, the virus may be there for a while because of the economic challenges on the island and political unrest. In Haiti, for example, it\u2019s one thing to get your diagnostic samples, but there’s no gas or fuel to deliver them to a diagnostic laboratory. The basic things we take for granted here are unique and insurmountable challenges there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Classical swine fever remains a threat<\/strong><\/p>\n

Classical swine fever, historically called hog cholera, is a virus that the US has experienced. It was eradicated in the US in 1978. However, the island of Hispaniola not only has ASF, but it has had classical swine fever since 1997.<\/p>\n

Classical swine fever currently is found in Central and South America, Europe and Asia and parts of Africa. North America, Australia and New Zealand are currently free of the disease. In the 1990\u2019s large classical swine fever outbreaks occurred in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Italy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThis virus is alive and well and exists in large areas across the globe, and you just need to be aware that it exists not far from our shores as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Foreign animal disease preparedness <\/strong><\/p>\n

The question goes beyond how to prepare for a FAD on your farm. How does the US industry \u2014 and North America \u2014 prepare because the US swine industry is inextricably bound to the Canadian and Mexican pig industries? \u00a0Dr. Marsh said this became increasingly apparent in his recent experience with avian influenza outbreaks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s surprising the number of products right here in Indiana that go into the international market,\u201d he explained. \u201cYou find that out because in a disease situation, you put an area around that infected site called the control zone. To move products in and out of that area, you have to have a permit. For example, one of the turkey companies here in Indiana ships 50 semitruck loads a week of turkey products to Mexico. It stopped [when avian influenza was diagnosed in Indiana] \u2014 just like that\u2014 those trucks were stopped at the border. We had to go through a negotiation on a timetable to continue to move that product. We’re just talking in a 10-kilometer area, that\u2019s 6.2 miles. That’s all it took, and Mexico said no.\u201d<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s a FAD suspected in your area, a 3-kilometer circle will be drawn around the site of the infected animal and that becomes the infected zone. Then a buffer zone will be established another 2 kilometers out from the original infected zone. The area as a whole is called the control area.\u00a0 The control area will have restrictions on movement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you’re outside of that zone, we hope that other states and other countries consider those as free areas and you can continue to move your product,\u201d he said. \u201cOtherwise, if you’re in that control area, there will be a permitting process for moving products in and out of the area,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you’re on the infected side, we’re going to be trying to contain the virus until we can eradicate the disease. But it really depends on where you wind up. Basically, your preparedness plan should prepare for either of those eventualities:\u00a0 If your site is infected and you’re in the control zone, or if you’re outside that area.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are many activities going on in the US swine industry to help producers and processors prepare for a foreign animal disease. Key programs Dr. Marsh discussed and encouraged producers to participate in:<\/p>\n

Premise ID.<\/strong> Having a state premise ID is critical for rapid identification of farms in the control zone. This is important to be able to contain the virus as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

Secure Pork Supply Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n