SHIC-Funded Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program Continues to Serve Industry Needs

Sep 07, 2026

The Swine Health Information Center funded the development and expansion of the Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program (SOIP) to address a critical gap in swine biosecurity. Dr. Derald Holtkamp, Iowa State University, leads the program, which offers online access, standardized resources, and reporting of outcomes for producers and their veterinarians to use in the event of a disease outbreak. While many biosecurity control measures exist, little research has focused on identifying the specific hazards and pathogen entry routes those measures are intended to prevent. Consequently, biosecurity resources are often applied inefficiently. SOIP uses disease outbreak investigations as opportunities to conduct systematic biosecurity hazard analyses, identify likely pathways of pathogen introduction, and prioritize risks that warrant intervention.

Find the entire project report for SHIC project #25-053 here.

SOIP strengthens the infrastructure needed to translate outbreak investigation findings into practical biosecurity improvements across the US swine industry. By improving data collection, training, reporting, and industry participation, SOIP provides a framework for identifying significant risks, prioritizing interventions, and improving preparedness for emerging and transboundary animal diseases. The long-term goal is to enhance herd health, productivity, and the global competitiveness of the US pork industry through more effective, evidence-based biosecurity practices.

Launched in January 2024, SOIP enables veterinarians and producers to conduct standardized outbreak investigations and securely store findings in a centralized database. By aggregating information across multiple investigations, the system allows the swine industry to identify recurring biosecurity risks and learn from collective experiences. The recently completed project’s objectives were to provide ongoing support for the SOIP platform, improve training resources, increase adoption of the application, enhance database and data extraction capabilities, and develop company- and industry-level benchmarking reports.

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Video: Managing Severe PRRS Outbreaks - Dr. Claire Mtezankuni

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Claire Mtezankuni, Swine Veterinarian at Carthage Veterinary Service, discusses the growing severity of PRRS outbreaks in sow farms. She explains how respiratory disease and sow mortality are changing outbreak response, why necropsies and bacterial cultures can guide treatment, and how vaccination, biosecurity, pain management, and clear team communication support recovery and elimination. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Emerging PRRS strains can produce severe reproductive and respiratory disease simultaneously, creating substantial health challenges across sow farms during acute outbreaks.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Claire Mtezankuni / claire-mtezankuni-2529b1b3 is a Swine Veterinarian at Carthage Veterinary Service in Illinois, where her work includes commercial farm veterinary leadership, herd health, disease elimination, and veterinary internship coordination. She holds a DVM from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Veterinary Science in Livestock Systems Health from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Learn more from Dr. Claire Mtezankuni on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.