US swine herd health is vulnerable to emerging domestic and international swine diseases, as the introduction of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in 2013 clearly revealed. African swine fever, as well as other foreign animal diseases, threaten today. Checkoff funding has given the Swine Health Information Center the opportunity to focus on emerging swine disease risk. SHIC’s 2022 Progress Report, presented to and accepted by the board of directors of the National Pork Board on December 15, 2022, details steps taken in 2022 to achieve the mission of safeguarding the health of the US swine herd.
SHIC’s 2022 Progress Report details how analysis of swine health data during the first six months of the year prompted revision of its 2022 plan of work mid-year to address a vulnerability identified in nursery, finishing, and transport biosecurity. During their June meeting, the SHIC Board of Directors approved the formation of the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program. Industry-wide task forces helped set research priorities and a national and international call for research proposals to address them was advertised, with work expected to begin this winter. The actions illustrate SHIC’s ability to change direction in quick response to an identified producer need.
SHIC’s international monitoring program alerted it to an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis virus in Australia early in 2022. Australia’s pork producers have lost an estimated 6% to 10% of their production. SHIC has funded a comprehensive literature review focused on the unique serotype of JEV that caused the outbreak and an updated US risk assessment of entry and establishment of the virus. In addition, a SHIC-sponsored seminar brought together Australia’s producers, animal health researchers, and animal and public health regulatory agencies with the USDA, CDC, and US researchers to see what lessons can be learned from the Australian experience to help prevent JEV from getting to the US or, if it does get in, to be prepared to respond quickly.
SHIC is guided by a board of directors made up of pork producers and swine veterinarians who expect timely, practical, and actionable outcomes.
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