ARS Newsletter Spotlights Swine Influenza

January 15, 2009 — 

The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is spotlighting the topic of swine influenza virus (SIV) in this month's Healthy Animals newsletter.

The article notes that influenza viruses can pass from humans to pigs and pigs to humans. The U.S. currently does not have an established SIV surveillance system but ARS's National Animal Disease Center (NADC) is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to develop a pilot program.

In September 2008, the government agencies kicked off a two-year effort to design and establish a national surveillance system, which they envision as a possible precursor to a permanent USDA-funded program. When the program is set up, the agencies will encourage veterinary diagnostic laboratories across the nation to send SIV samples to APHIS. Scientists there and at ARS will test and characterize the samples. That information will be shared with ARS and CDC. In addition, the CDC will share human flu viruses with APHIS in cases where human illness with SIV is suspected.

Researchers at the Biosafety Level 2 laboratory in Ames, IA will sequence selective SIV genomes and study their effects on pigs. If the strains have the potential to impact human health, CDC scientists may use the samples to develop diagnostic tests or vaccines for humans.

[Editor's Note: AASV and the National Pork Board have been actively discussing this project with USDA and CDC. We support the need to share influenza isolates between NADC and CDC and would like to see this effort also result in a more rapid introduction of viral strains in commercially-licensed swine influenza vaccines. Veterinarians are encouraged to remind producers that influenza can be transmitted back and forth between humans and pigs. Frequent hand washing is an important step in preventing the spread of the virus. Farm employees experiencing flu-like symptoms should be encouraged to limit their contact with pigs and visit their doctor. They should also inform their doctor that they work with livestock.]