GOOD PRACTICES FOR BIOSECURITY IN THE PIG SECTOR WB/OIE/FAO guidelines

Executive Summary zoonotic viruses prompting considerable international concern Nipah Virus, Avian influenza, and now pandemic H1N1 There is impact on public safety, and commercial trade of livestock Prevention of the spread of disease something we can implement

Biosecurity “Biosecurity is the implementation of measures that reduce the risk of the introduction and spread of disease agents; it requires the adoption of a set of attitudes and behaviors by people to reduce risk in all activities involving domestic, captive/exotic and wild animals and their products”

General Principles specific to pandemic H1N1 1.Visitors who are allowed to have contact with swine should be limited to only people having essential business on the farm; other meetings should be conducted off farm if possible – Doors should be locked – Signs should indicate visitors should not enter facilities

General Principles specific to pandemic H1N1 2.People clinically ill with influenza symptoms should not enter barns and contact pigs until they stop shedding the virus. – The Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that the virus is shed up to 7 days from the onset of symptoms, and children may shed longer.

General Principles specific to pandemic H1N1 3.Swine workers and others with close contact with swine, should be considered for preventive measures such as protective clothing (e.g. mask), medications and influenza vaccination when available.

General Principles specific to pandemic H1N1 4.Encouragement of regular hand washing be implemented for farm workers and visitors. – Hand washing opportunities should available and be practical; they are suggested not only for influenza, but for all diseases that can spread between pigs and people

General Principles specific to pandemic H1N1 5.Vaccination of swine for classical H1N1 influenza is safe, but efficacy against the pandemic strain is not known. – If it can be proven to reduce clinical signs and shedding, vaccination of herds for swine influenza may be of value; – however, it may complicate surveillance for herds wishing to stay serologically negative. The decision to vaccinate swine herds should be carefully discussed with the herd veterinarian before implementing it.

The routes of Disease transmission Pigs – Most frequently diseases move with infected pigs – Do not move sick pigs but – Pigs incubating the disease may not be clinically ill yet – Recovered pigs may appear healthy but can spread disease

Action points Inspect pigs before moving Use test to detect disease – Antibody tests for previous exposure elisa – Antigen for incubating disease PCR Quarantine incoming pigs

The routes of disease transmission Semen – Boar semen can be a source of pathogens, especially viruses. Several of the major pathogens (CSFv, PRRSv, ADv…) – Swine influenza virus replicates only the respiratory tract, it is not shed into semen, and accidental contamination of semen is thought not result in transmission through artificial insemination

The routes of Disease transmission People It is clear that humans can transport the pathogens on boots, clothes, and hands. – Entry decontamination protocols – Hand wash (shower) change of clothes Farm workers must not own pigs at home Thieves are a problem, not just because they steal pigs or equipment, but also because they may not stop to read the biosecurity protocols first

The routes of pathogen transmission feed including swill feeding, drinking water and bedding material Feed, bedding and water can all contribute to pathogen dissemination. – seldom involved in a large-scale spread of epidemic diseases, Unpasteurized milk and milk by-products obtained from infected cattle (e.g. Tuberculosis, Brucellosis) can be a source of pathogens. Fresh pork is a documented risk factor of transmission for a number of pathogens, including Foot-and-Mouth-Disease virus, Classical Swine Fever virus, African swine fever virus, PRRS and other systemic viruses. – the use of kitchen/restaurant swill feed and diverse by-products which can be obtained from slaughterhouses carries great disease risk. Influenza virus does not become viremic and thus is not spread through pork. It does not survive long outside the host; so feed, water and bedding, are not thought to be a major source of transmission

The routes of pathogen transmission Aerosol Pathogens can be transmitted by air, sometimes surprisingly long distances. The efficacy of airborne transmission strongly depends on geographical and climatic conditions. It also depends on virus load being emitted from the source herd, which is proportional its size and numbers animals present. The resistance of the pathogen to drying and sunlight determines its ability to spread through the air No evidence that pandemic H1N1 spreads by aerosol from herd to herd

The routes of pathogen transmission Fomites (mechanical transmission) Vehicles, especially those used for transporting pigs, are also efficient vectors of pathogens and need due care. Birds, insects, rodents and other pest are known to transport pathogens Pandemic H1N1 doesn’t survive long in environment Role of wild birds in transmission is unknown

The importance of communication strategies In order to make meaningful change in rural communities, a well-designed communication plan is essential. The key to changing behaviors/practices lies in the level of perception of risk. Communication strategies need to build on the way people perceive their own situation Communication cannot be merely prescriptive it must outline risk and benefit

The importance of communication strategies Public and private sector should work together to design and implement control and eradication programs. Mutual trust between public and private sector is essential. In cases where the disease has a zoonotic concern, pre-emptive discussions between public health agencies, agricultural departments and the pig industry should take place to ensure mutual understanding and cooperation in a public health emergency.