Emerging Disease Communications Strategy Formed

July 12, 2017 — 

When emerging swine disease arises, early communication about outbreaks is essential. Veterinarians and pork producers need to know who to contact and how to proceed in these events, beyond their diagnostic work and caring for the affected herd, so information is shared to protect the health of the U.S. herd. The recently developed Emerging Disease Communication Plan provides the process to follow and outlines the resources available. [Source: National Hog Farmer, July 5, 2017]

The Swine Health Information Center participated in development of the process which provides for confidentiality of the producer, veterinarian, or site identifiers making initial calls. Any actions because of those calls will maintain confidentiality to the level requested by the producer or veterinarian unless state or federal swine health regulations dictate otherwise.

The first step in the Emerging Disease Communication Plan is complete and exhaustive diagnostics beginning with routine testing and proceeding to further investigation if the pathogen is not identified. If follow-up diagnostics are required, resources are available through SHIC's Diagnostic Fee Support process. Should these diagnostics point to a new or emerging pathogen, producers and/or their veterinarians move on to step two of the communication strategy which is contacting a veterinarian with any one of the following pork industry organizations;

• American Association of Swine Veterinarians
• National Pork Board
• National Pork Producers Council
• Swine Health Information Center

Full text:
http://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/animal-health/emerging-disease-communications-strategy-formed