The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) Swine Disease Matrix, developed last year to evaluate transboundary and emerging diseases, was recently reviewed and updated by the SHIC Monitoring and Analysis Working Group. The objective of the Matrix review is to facilitate a swine health reporting and communication network among the international contacts of the Working Group.
Recognizing the Matrix as a living document demanding periodic updates, the Working Group reviewed each disease listed and its impact in three different categories: economic impact (impact on the farm level); market impact – domestic and international; and the chances of introduction and emergence in the US herd. The overall score assigned in the Matrix is the average of the three categories. As a result of the review, scores on diseases in the Matrix were changed to reflect current conditions in the industry.
The Matrix guides SHIC research and programs by prioritizing swine viral pathogens, allowing the organization to focus on the highest risks to the US swine herd. Fact sheets on diseases on the Matrix are available from SHIC by clicking here.
The Matrix is available for comment by clicking here. All AASV members are invited to review the Matrix and send feedback to Dr. Paul Sundberg psundberg@swinehealth.org.
The mission of the Swine Health Information Center is to protect and enhance the health of the United States swine herd through coordinated global disease monitoring, targeted research investments that minimize the impact of future disease threats, and analysis of swine health data. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Paul Sundberg at psundberg@swinehealth.org.