Recommendations to Reduce Senecavirus Disruptions to Commerce in the Pork Industry

October 13, 2017 — 

As a response to the recent increase in foreign animal disease (FAD) investigations of swine at slaughter plants, the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials (NASAHO) convened a 90-day Senecavirus A Working Group (WG) to address all facets of the Senecavirus issue, including current science, review of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidance documents, use of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratories in FAD investigations, assessment of the swine marketing structure to determine ways to improve traceability and biosecurity, parallels with other vesicular disease, etc. At the completion of the 90-day timeframe, this final report was created listing the recommendations of the working group. [Source: Senecavirus Working Group, October 12, 2017]

This document offers a starting point to address the investigation of foreign animal diseases--SVA specifically--in a modern era where investigatory methods have not changed to meet the needs of commerce in a fast-paced and efficient pork industry. What used to be unusual (FAD investigations) has become routine, resulting in a greater drain on limited resources (staffing, laboratory, financial). The greatest challenge exists where the need to protect the industry from catastrophic disease events intersects with commerce.

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