Commonground
Senior Moderator
July 8, 2024
Pork industry no stranger to managing new, novel influenza strains.
A multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza Type A (H5N1) in dairy cows began on March 25 in Texas. The cross-species outbreak immediately drew the attention of pork industry organizations whose representatives began collaborating for a cohesive, coordinated - not duplicative – effort to be informed, engaged and responsive on behalf of the pig farmers and practitioners they represent and serve.
“Since H5N1 was identified in dairy cattle, there’s been constant collaboration and communication between partners in the pork industry. The Pork Board has been meeting at least weekly with stakeholders from the Swine Health Information Center, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, The Meat Institute, the National Pork Producers Council, the USDA and others to closely monitor H5N1 updates and response within the dairy industry. These meetings give us the opportunity to discuss the potential implications and possible response,” remarked Marisa Rotolo, veterinary epidemiologist, director of swine health, National Pork Board.
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“The swine industry has been monitoring the evolving H5N1 situation closely. We know that new or novel strains of a virus can raise questions and activity beyond how it impacts the animals themselves, including regulatory action and impacts to trade. As we watch the dairy industry’s experience, we are engaging in conversations with state and federal regulators, public health officials, diagnostic laboratories and trading partners to educate decision makers about the swine industry,” Forseth said.
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SHIC provides additional tools for practitioners and producers to employ in preparedness efforts as well. “Swine producers and their veterinarians are very familiar with surveillance and management of influenza A viruses in their herds and the detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle highlights the continued importance for IAV surveillance. The Swine Disease Reporting System, funded by SHIC, provides information and tools that can be applied for use in decision making on farms. Monthly domestic disease monitoring reports detail the detection of influenza A virus across six veterinary diagnostic laboratories and represent >96% of U.S. swine sample submissions, enabling producers to rapidly detect new viruses, track changes over time and by region, and inform decisions for management strategies,” stated Lisa Becton, DVM, MS, DACVPM, associate director of SHIC.
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"AASV recommends pork producers, swine veterinarians and diagnostic laboratories actively participate in IAV surveillance programs that provide information regarding influenza A virus evolution and epidemiology. Participation in these surveillance programs can help identify and quickly respond to emerging threats with early detection,” stated Canon.
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Since the identification of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle, the Pork Board has been working collaboratively with partners across the barnyard to help us prepare if we were to have an introduction of H5N1 into the swine herd,” said Fowler.
“The swine industry already has extensive knowledge and experience when it comes to flu management and monitoring. We have multiple programs that can be quickly deployed should H5N1 be detected in swine,” Rotolo observed. Existing programs combined with intentional preparedness efforts equip the pork industry to deploy an effective response to H5N1 in the U.S. swine herd if needed.
https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/l...try-responds-to-h5n1-outbreak-in-dairy-cattle
Pork industry no stranger to managing new, novel influenza strains.
A multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza Type A (H5N1) in dairy cows began on March 25 in Texas. The cross-species outbreak immediately drew the attention of pork industry organizations whose representatives began collaborating for a cohesive, coordinated - not duplicative – effort to be informed, engaged and responsive on behalf of the pig farmers and practitioners they represent and serve.
“Since H5N1 was identified in dairy cattle, there’s been constant collaboration and communication between partners in the pork industry. The Pork Board has been meeting at least weekly with stakeholders from the Swine Health Information Center, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, The Meat Institute, the National Pork Producers Council, the USDA and others to closely monitor H5N1 updates and response within the dairy industry. These meetings give us the opportunity to discuss the potential implications and possible response,” remarked Marisa Rotolo, veterinary epidemiologist, director of swine health, National Pork Board.
-snip-
“The swine industry has been monitoring the evolving H5N1 situation closely. We know that new or novel strains of a virus can raise questions and activity beyond how it impacts the animals themselves, including regulatory action and impacts to trade. As we watch the dairy industry’s experience, we are engaging in conversations with state and federal regulators, public health officials, diagnostic laboratories and trading partners to educate decision makers about the swine industry,” Forseth said.
-snip-
SHIC provides additional tools for practitioners and producers to employ in preparedness efforts as well. “Swine producers and their veterinarians are very familiar with surveillance and management of influenza A viruses in their herds and the detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle highlights the continued importance for IAV surveillance. The Swine Disease Reporting System, funded by SHIC, provides information and tools that can be applied for use in decision making on farms. Monthly domestic disease monitoring reports detail the detection of influenza A virus across six veterinary diagnostic laboratories and represent >96% of U.S. swine sample submissions, enabling producers to rapidly detect new viruses, track changes over time and by region, and inform decisions for management strategies,” stated Lisa Becton, DVM, MS, DACVPM, associate director of SHIC.
-snip-
"AASV recommends pork producers, swine veterinarians and diagnostic laboratories actively participate in IAV surveillance programs that provide information regarding influenza A virus evolution and epidemiology. Participation in these surveillance programs can help identify and quickly respond to emerging threats with early detection,” stated Canon.
-snip-
Since the identification of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle, the Pork Board has been working collaboratively with partners across the barnyard to help us prepare if we were to have an introduction of H5N1 into the swine herd,” said Fowler.
“The swine industry already has extensive knowledge and experience when it comes to flu management and monitoring. We have multiple programs that can be quickly deployed should H5N1 be detected in swine,” Rotolo observed. Existing programs combined with intentional preparedness efforts equip the pork industry to deploy an effective response to H5N1 in the U.S. swine herd if needed.
https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/l...try-responds-to-h5n1-outbreak-in-dairy-cattle