Latest News From Biosecurity

Drug-resistant microbes are a global health concern that threatens our ability to treat infections. A recently published study tracked the antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from swine.

Take a step back and look at the big picture of animal health in your operation. Is your pig flow designed to prevent disease spread between groups, start pigs better at weaning and maximize performance potential?

Missouri's efforts to decrease its feral hog population is working. Here's a look at what Missouri is doing to fight this invasive nightmare.

Indonesia reported an outbreak of the deadly virus of pigs, African swine fever, on a farm on the Riau Islands near Singapore, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

From early 2017 to early 2019, Tom Petznick, DVM, knew his client’s 4500-head farrow-to-wean swine herd had a new disease not previously seen by him or his colleagues. Here's how diagnostic testing helped.

The latest Swine Disease Reporting System report has some people scratching their heads. For the first time in recent memory, porcine circovirus type 2 jumped into the top 10 most-diagnosed diseases list at the ISU VDL.

Streptococcus suis is a normal inhabitant of the respiratory tract and is found in all swine herds. However, it becomes a problem when it expresses virulent factors that cause disease.

The Philippines pork industry continues to fight African swine fever, but officials say current protocols aren't working and new measures are needed to control and prevent this deadly disease of pigs.

Recently, a producer in northwest Iowa came to us with a Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae problem, writes Pipestone veterinarian Emily McDowell. Here's a look at one elimination case study.

After Japanese encephalitis virus struck Australia in early 2022, the Swine Health Information Center funded a study to reassess the risk of JEV introduction and establishment in the U.S. Here's an update.

As exhibitors prepare for show season, it's important to develop a plan for how to handle livestock emergencies. Having a plan in place prior to the show ensures quick action and timely care should an emergency happen.

Facebook was buzzing over the weekend after a pig attacked a farmer near Tolna, N.D. Although initial reports claimed it was a wild pig attack, North Dakota Department of Agriculture confirms it was a stray domestic pig.

USDA researchers have engineered sustainable machine-washable antimicrobial wipes that can be used at least 30 times for cleaning hard and nonporous surfaces.

Spring livestock shows are underway with summer junior nationals and fall fairs not far behind. Biosecurity should always be a priority for exhibitors before, during and after the show.

The global animal disinfectants market is expected to reach $4.6 billion by 2027, according to a Markets and Markets report, up from $3.2 billion in 2022.

Forty-two producers were surveyed in the summer of 2022 to better understand their perspectives on wean-to-market biosecurity. The results pointed to a noticeable gap, says Pipestone's Rachel Stika Jensen, DVM.

The Canadian federal budget’s establishment of a vaccine bank for foot-and-mouth disease is an excellent step forward for Canada’s pork industry, Canadian Pork Council chair Rene Roy says.

ASF isn't going away in the Eurasian wild boar population. Experts say the infection pressure resulting from infected carcasses in the environment can be a major contributor to disease persistence and spread. 

One of the best ways to prepare for an emergency is to put yourself in a simulation exercise to test response plans and ultimately evaluate how it goes. Here's a look at a recent ASF outbreak simulation in Brazil.

As a veterinarian, Jeremy Pittman, senior director of U.S. veterinary services for Smithfield Foods, says he is constantly tasked with, asked about and challenged on biosecurity processes or protocols. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists intercepted three shipments containing dangerous prohibited items at an Express Consignment Operations hub near Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.

African swine fever fatigue is real, says Patrick Webb at the National Pork Board. Since ASF rocked China in 2018, U.S. pork producers have been bombarded with messages to do their part to protect the country.

African swine fever outbreaks continue to threaten countries around the world, including Korea and Cebu. Here's a look at what officials are doing to stop the spread of the deadly swine virus.

Sixty projects have been awarded $15.8 million by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to focus on the nation’s response and control to animal disease outbreaks.

When it comes to PRRS, every producer wants to know what’s working and what’s not. Unfortunately, the fight against PRRS is not that easy as new strains continue to affect pork production around the world. 

A standardized outbreak investigation instrument is now available to help producers and veterinarians. 

The Beagle Brigade Act of 2023 would provide congressional authority to USDA's National Detector Dog Training Center that trains canine teams that work to prevent foreign animal disease from entering the U.S. 

The threats facing the U.S. swine industry are many, veterinarian Gordon Spronk pointed out at the AASV annual meeting. Here are 10 things to apply at the farm immediately to fight ongoing disease battles.

Nineteen feral cattle have been shot from a helicopter by federal employees in a New Mexico wilderness area in a cull opposed by ranchers and criticized by the state’s governor.

“Wean-to-harvest biosecurity is a complex issue for our industry that has been developing for many years, says SHIC's Megan Niederwerder. Here are the 10 projects funded in SHIC's Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program.

Deploying protein modifications developed by Kansas State, Acceligen announced it's able to breed pigs naturally resistant to PRRS. The resistance was proven effective through a University of Illinois collaboration.

Another case of African swine fever has been confirmed in farm pigs in east Germany.

Poland has reported outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in five wild boar in the northern part of the country.

On a bitterly cold January morning, a helicopter soars above central Texas farmland. The four passengers hanging outside the aircraft are hunting - going after feral hogs, an invasive species in the southeastern U.S.

Farrowing house scours can be a frustrating and complex challenge that requires a multi-modal approach to control. While on the sow, multiple factors can influence piglet scour severity and prevalence. Here are 3 tips.

A detection of ASF in U.S. pigs could devastate the pork industry, explains USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. Prevention is the best way to protect the pork industry.

It's a message that Paul Sundberg can't hear enough: The Swine Health Information Center's efforts are helping me make important decisions on my farm.

In the U.S., PRRSV L1C variant of RFLP 1-4-4 has been a significant challenge. Now PRRSV L1C 1-2-4 is a concern. In Spain, a PRRSV strain called Rosalia is causing problems. Here's an opportunity to learn more.

As the debate heats up, here’s a breakdown of what National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) looks to push on the 2023 farm bill negotiating table.

New steps are being taken by USDA to help increase U.S. preparedness to respond to high-consequence foreign animal diseases.

University of Minnesota researchers have reached a major breakthrough in the efforts to develop effective mitigation strategies to control ASF and keep it from entering North America.

Research has shown soybean products provide an environment that stabilizes viruses, including the deadly ASF virus. A new grant will help researchers make progress in preventing virus entry into the U.S. through feed.

EPA is proposing changes to rodenticides that would result in canceling products and uses, adding more requirements to labels, and reclassifying some products to restricted use pesticides. Here's what you need to know.

African swine fever has basically spread everywhere on Hispaniola. Amy Delgado, DVM, has been deployed five times to the DR and twice to Haiti to support the USDA’s response to this outbreak. Here's an update.

Greece has detected African swine fever in a wild boar in the north of the country.

Experts say the best way to help control the next emerging disease in the U.S. pork industry is to enhance wean-to-harvest biosecurity.

Under the rule, APHIS would require tags that are both visually and electronically readable for interstate movement of cattle and bison six months after a final rule is published in the Federal Register.

Although the likelihood of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) being found in the U.S. is low, here's why USDA is taking this virus seriously.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced $40 million in funding to help complete Phase 2 of Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Here's why it matters to all of animal agriculture.

At least 11 pig farms in Penang have confirmed cases of African swine fever. Area pig farmers are being urged to cooperate fully with their state Veterinary Services Department to stop the spread of this deadly virus.