As winter settles in, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) is urging pork producers to strengthen their biosecurity measures to combat rising cases of swine diseases, including PRRS, PED, and Influenza A. The call to action follows SHIC’s latest domestic and global disease monitoring reports, released in their December eNewsletter.
Dr. Lisa Becton, SHIC Associate Director, highlights the difficulties of maintaining biosecurity during the cold winter months, when pathogens thrive in cold, wet conditions and can survive for extended periods.
“This month, we’ve seen the highest PRRS case positivity in the wean-to-market category since November 2018, with a case positivity rate of 50 percent,” Dr. Becton reports. “The majority of cases stem from the lineage 1C.5 strain, which reached its highest single-month detection of 403 cases.”
Key Disease Trends Identified by SHIC:
- PRRS: Record-high positivity rates, particularly in the wean-to-market category, driven by the 1C.5 strain.
- PED: Increased case positivity observed in regions such as Iowa, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Missouri.
- Influenza A: Elevated activity within the sow population, with a 36 percent case positivity rate.
- Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: A slight decrease in the wean-to-market group, but case positivity remains higher compared to previous years.
- Other Notable Pathogens: Alarms raised for increases in tissue diagnoses of Pasteurella multocida, Strep suis, and influenza.
“These trends indicate that we can expect heightened health challenges throughout the winter,” Dr. Becton warns. “This underscores the importance of robust biosecurity practices, including effective washing and disinfection protocols, even during cold weather.”
Producers are encouraged to monitor SHIC’s disease reports, which provide valuable insights and tools for mitigating health risks. These reports are available at swinehealth.org.
For more updates on swine health and industry news, stay tuned to SwineWeb.com.
