Swine producers and veterinarians have recently expressed concerns about increased mortality in growing pigs. The clinical signs reportedly resemble those often associated with PMWS. The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) has partnered with the Purdue University Regional Visual Analytic Center (PURVAC) to develop a tool to better understand this syndrome.
This tool would facilitate geographical and temporal visualization of disease syndromes and potential risk factors. PURVAC currently uses similar tools to monitor human health challenges and has volunteered to custom design a tool for the pork industry at no cost. However, we must provide the data for them to develop the prototype tool.
We are asking our membership to complete a short survey describing a case of elevated mortality that you have experienced. ALL data collected will be held strictly confidential under a confidentiality agreement with AASV and Purdue University. The information submitted will not be made public and cannot be accessed using the Freedom of Information Act. The only people that will see the raw data will be designated representatives of AASV and the Project Team at Purdue.
We hope that you choose to participate so that we can give our industry one more tool in the fight against emerging disease syndromes.
To Participate:
1. Access the survey online at http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~helmelee/swine/survey.php.
2. Fill out ONE survey per affected SITE.
3. If possible, also fill out ONE survey describing an unaffected SITE, in the same geographical area as the affected site, for us to use as a control.
4. Surveys can be completed online or printed and faxed or mailed to:
Dr. Sandy Amass at 765-494-9781 or
Purdue University VCS/Lynn
625 Harrison Street
West Lafayette, IN
47907-2026
5. Please return all completed surveys by April 10th.
Thank you for your participation!