Dual Biosecurity Ring Needed to Protect Against Foreign Animal Disease

The Manager of the Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network says two rings of biosecurity are needed to protect the North American swine herd from the threat posed by foreign animals diseases

by Bruce Cochrane – FarmScape Online

Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network Manager Dr. Jette Christensen told FarmScape Online during an on-air interview that the threat posed to the North American swine herd by African Swine Fever (ASF) remains high, and in addition, there is now Classical Swine Fever to consider.

“We need heightened biosecurity in two rings now”

 

“We’ve had reports of African Swine Fever in Mongolia, Cambodia, Vietnam and widespread in China and, over the last quarter to six months

“Classical Swine Fever has popped up in Northeastern Brazil, spreading in the back yard population while in Japan it’s been detected in their commercial swine and in their wild pig population.

“So, clearly prevention now needs two rings.

“We need heightened biosecurity at our borders and there’s been a lot of activities that work for both Classical Swine fever and for African Swine Fever with increased border control, more awareness about what people are bringing in from other countries, especially on food items, no pork from other countries coming in to the country.

“That’s one ring of biosecurity but we need a double ring.

“We also need one around each farm.

“It’s important that each farm also have a high biosecurity and don’t allow people from other countries to come into their farm without strict biosecurity protocols and they keep pork products off the farm so there’s no contact there.

“The main thing is we need protection at the border but also around each single farm.”

Dr. Christensen encourages producers to maintain wartime biosecurity measures.

Source: FarmScape Online