AASV rolls out web-based version of PRRS Risk Assessement

October 31, 2007 — AASV Staff

The new web-based version of the PRRS Risk Assessment Tool will be unveiled in Ames, Iowa to participants in the training session to be held November 10 following the ISU Swine Disease Conference. The new version offers improved access and ease of use in addition to expanded capacity for storing and manipulating data. Veterinarians who have been previously trained on the spreadsheet version of the Risk Assessment Tool will need to attend a training session in order to use the web version. Those who have not previously used the PRRS Risk Assessment Tool are also encouraged to participate in order to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by use of the tool.

What does the PRRS Risk Assessment Tool do? As with anything we try to manage, we must first be able to measure it. The PRRS Risk Assessment (PRA) Tool is an epidemiological tool developed specifically to measure the risk that a clinical episode of PRRS will occur. A companion database of completed assessments was developed for the purpose of benchmarking and analysis.

Veterinarians have applied the PRRS Risk Assessment for the Breeding Herd in the following ways:

1. To evaluate current biosecurity protocols and/or to develop new biosecurity protocols to avoid risk
2. To demonstrate improvement in biosecurity over time to help justify expenditure of resources on measures to improve biosecurity
3. As an aid in the decision to initiate a project to eliminate PRRSv from a breeding herd site
   1. Also to identify modifiable risk factors in an effort to increase the likelihood that an elimination project will be successful long-term
4. As an aid in the decision to use a breeding herd site to produce genetic animals
5. To communicate risks and the importance of biosecurity procedures to clients or production personnel
6. As part of the due diligence process for purchases or contracting agreements

The training on the web-based version of the Risk Assessment Tool will take place on Saturday November 10, 2007 from 7:30am - 1:00pm at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. Lunch will be provided. There is no cost to AASV members for the training. Enrollment is limited to 15 veterinarians from the U.S. or Canada on a first-come-first-served basis. To enroll in the training, please email aasv@aasv.org or call the AASV office at 515-465-5255.

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AASV staff contributed to or researched this story. For more information about the AASV, please visit http://www.aasv.org/.