Approved by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) Board of Directors, the 2022 Plan of Work outlines efforts to be taken in the areas of swine disease monitoring and reports, African swine fever (ASF), transport biosecurity, and other significant projects to protect the US swine herd from emerging diseases. Existing SHIC programs will also continue to be refined and improved.
In 2022, the Plan of Work calls for SHIC’s Rapid Response Program and Diagnostic Fee Assistance to be reviewed and changes made to address the current context of emerging disease issues in the US. Additionally, the Morrison Swine Health Improvement Program, funded by SHIC, will expand its capabilities and deliverables for the benefit of the US pork producers. On-going research into emerging disease identification, mitigation, preparedness, and response will always be one of SHIC’s highest priorities.
Global and Domestic Disease Monitoring Reports are among the most viewed elements of the SHIC newsletter and website. These reports provide near real-time information needed for the pork industry as SHIC watches emerging diseases in the US and around the globe.
SHIC-directed ASF research going on in Vietnam has yielded valuable data to help the US industry prepare in the event of an outbreak. Additional information from this work will be reviewed and evaluated will provide insights for preparedness efforts.
Transport biosecurity presents a challenge for the US swine industry. While some studies were done following the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreak in 2015, more needs to be done. SHIC has data available from ongoing monitoring projects to do additional work to provide guidance to the industry in 2022.
The EpiX study conducted in 2021 showed feed safety is a gap for the pork industry. SHIC has several studies already completed to further examine the risks, gaps, and threats posed by feed with more underway. SHIC in 2022 will take this information and the new research results to offer actions for pork producers.
The entire Plan of Work includes projects in the key areas of SHIC’s mission:
- Improve swine health information
- Monitor and mitigate risks to swine health
- Responding to emerging disease
- Surveillance and discovery of emerging disease
- Swine disease matrices
SHIC, launched by the National Pork Board in 2015 solely with Pork Checkoff funding, continues to focus efforts on prevention, preparedness, and response to novel and emerging swine disease for the benefit of US swine health. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. SHIC is funded by America’s pork producers to fulfill its mission to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Sundberg at psundberg@swinehealth.org.