AASV Forms PRRS Task Force

May 14, 2008 — 

The North American PRRS Eradication Task Force (NAPETF) and the AASV PRRS Committee met during the AASV Annual Meeting in San Diego on March 8th. The groups formally requested that the AASV Board of Directors make some changes to the current committee structure to enhance the efficiency of the association's effort to address the questions associated with PRRS management and elimination.

In response, the Board approved a motion to sunset the NAPETF and to rename the PRRS Committee the AASV PRRS Task Force. The missions of the NAPETF and the PRRS Committee would be rolled into the mission of the Task Force and reevaluated to reduce the likelihood of duplication of efforts. The Board wishes to recognize and thank the many members who have given their time and expertise to participate in the effort to address the many challenges posed by the PRRS virus. Since its emergence in the late 1980s, PRRS has confounded producers, veterinarians, and researchers alike. The members of the PRRS committee and the NAPETF have worked diligently to identify needed research and management issues requiring further exploration and educational information to benefit the AASV membership.

The AASV Executive Committee met and further reviewed ways to make the Task Force more effective. It was decided that the Task Force should be comprised of a relatively small number of members and would act as a steering committee overseeing ad hoc working groups established as needed to address very specific projects identified as pertinent to achieving the Task Force's mission.

The Executive Committee has also asked Dr. Max Rodibaugh to chair the Task Force. Dr. Rodibaugh was AASV President at the time the original PRRS Committee was formed and is interested in working with the membership to develop educational materials, offer research guidance and review and to further the dissemination of information regarding the control, management and elimination of the PRRS virus to the AASV membership.

Please visit the PRRS Task Force web page to review the committee roster and activities. Also, one of the first activities of the newly-formed Task Force is to provide additional reference materials for the membership. These resources will be posted on the committee's webpage starting in the next few weeks.