USDA Animal Health and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services has released a revised 2024 Japanese Encephalitis Disease Response Strategy, which can be found on the APHIS Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response website.
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitos and can cause clinical disease in horses, humans and swine. Although the U.S. is currently negative for this transboundary virus capable of causing reproductive failure, abortions and mummified fetuses on sow farm, this document is intended to provide strategic guidance for USDA, APHIS and responsders at all levels in the event of a JEV outbreak.
“Following the spread of a new JEV genotype into new geographic regions of Australia in 2022, the U.S. responded quickly with investments in prevention and preparedness activities to reduce the risk of JEV as an emerging transboundary disease for the U.S. pork industry,” says Megan Niederwerder, Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) executive director.
If JEV is someday introduced into the U.S., Veterinary Services will provide additional policy guidance on specific response operation activities, tailored to the conditions of the outbreak, APHIS said in a release.
The 2024 strategy updates and expands the scope of the 2013 version. APHIS Veterinary Services incorporated current science and research, shifted away from eradication as a response strategy, and updated considerations for control and vaccination, APHIS explained.
The updated version includes more elements of the response than were previously addressed, such as a recognizing a One Health approach, increasing collaboration with public health authorities, and enhancing communication plans.
“Through a partnership with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, the Swine Health Information Center leveraged Pork Checkoff funds to establish a $1-million research program to help fill knowledge gaps in JEV prevention, preparedness and response,” Niederwerder says. “Further, the U.S. swine industry has provided stakeholder feedback to USDA APHIS on their efforts to update the 2013 Japanese Encephalitis Disease Response Strategy. With a new 2024 version now publicly available, SHIC applauds the efforts of USDA APHIS Veterinary Services to revise and publish an updated response plan for stakeholder awareness should a JEV incursion occur in the U.S.”
