NPPC Requests Review of Swine Disease Surveillance Program

November 19, 2014 — 

NPPC has asked USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to evaluate the efficacy of its Swine Influenza Virus Surveillance Program, which is set to expire next year. [Source: NPPC]

In a letter to APHIS Deputy Administrator Dr. John Clifford, head of the agency’s Veterinary Services, NPPC said that, while it is important to detect the presence and general distribution of viruses that may have a significant impact on the swine industry, it is equally important to identify those that are, or may be, of public health concern and to identify genomic sequences of viruses that may be relevant for vaccine or diagnostic reagent development. The organization pointed out that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials recently voiced strong support for the surveillance program.

NPPC recommended that APHIS undertake a formal review of the surveillance program to determine whether it should continue and if so, what improvements should be made.