My perception of time passage has become very distorted during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as the days, weeks, and months have blended and blurred. Science would suggest that I am not alone in experiencing this phenomenon, as the novelty and emotional context of an experience can alter how we perceive the passage of time.1 The phenomenon has resulted in clever memes proclaiming “For those who have lost track, today is Blursday the fortyteenth of Maprilay.”
If you can remember life pre-COVID-19, the swine industry was intensely focused on prevention, preparation, and response efforts to the introduction of a foreign animal disease (FAD). The swine industry had collaborated closely with state and federal governments in FAD prevention and response preparation through several initiatives such as the Secure Pork Supply plan. Believe it or not, we are rapidly approaching 1 year from when the swine industry, along with federal, state, and local agencies, had the opportunity to exercise their response to an African swine fever outbreak during the Swine Fever Exercise for Agriculture Response (SFEAR).
It became evident throughout the course of the exercise which critical preparedness and response activities required additional resources to achieve the 3 primary goals of any FAD response: 1) detect, control, and contain the FAD as quickly as possible, 2) eradicate the FAD using strategies to stabilize animal agriculture, and 3) provide science- and risk-based approaches to facilitate continuity of business.2 Two specific concerns identified during the SFEAR were:
- A limited proficiency of FAD diagnosticians (FADDs) when performing on-farm investigations.
- The number of diagnostic samples required to confirm the health status of premises within a given zone became a significant bottleneck.
With funding from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians is collaborating with the Center for Food Security and Public Health and Swine Medicine Education Center at Iowa State University and the National Pork Board to develop training materials to address these 2 concerns.
An on-farm immersion course will be developed to provide hands-on training for FADDs and other animal agriculture sector responders to address the first concern. While the FADDs have been trained across all species, they may not have had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with current swine medicine practices or modern pig production facilities. A better understanding of pig production, the movement of animals, biosecurity measures followed onsite, and increased proficiency at performing necropsies and sample collection will increase an FADD’s ability and efficiency during an FAD investigation.
To address the second concern, a diagnostic sample collection training program will be developed to assure state and federal animal health officials that producers, caretakers, or other pig industry personnel have been trained by category II accredited veterinarians to correctly collect, handle, and submit samples. During an FAD outbreak, not only do sample collection requirements increase, but biosecurity and downtime requirements also increase. This training program will allow the production field staff, producers, barn managers, and others that many swine-focused veterinarians already rely on for diagnostic sample collection to become a great asset during an FAD response.
The collaborating team began working on these two training programs in January with priority given to the sample collection training and continue to make progress on the project objectives. Outreach to AASV members, category II accredited veterinarians, veterinary students, state and federal animal health officials, FADDs, and other animal agricultural sector responders to raise awareness of and participation in these two programs will begin in 2021.
Whether your world appears to be spinning faster or slower due to COVID-19, focus on key industry priorities remains and work to improve FAD prevention, preparedness, and response measures continues.
References
*1. Schnalzer R. Is time flying by oddly quickly during COVID-19? Here’s why you may feel that way. Los Angeles Times. May 1, 2020. Accessed July 23, 2020. https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-05-01/does-it-feel-like-like-time-is-flying-by-during-coronavirus-quarantine-heres-why.
*2. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture. Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan. APHIS Foreign Animal Disease Framework Response Strategies. FAD PReP Manual 2-0. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_management/downloads/documents_manuals/fadprep_manual_2.pdf. Published October 2015. Accessed October 22, 2019.
* Non-refereed references.
Sherrie Webb, MSc
Director of Swine Welfare