24 Story Idea? Contact Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Pork | October 2024 DISEASE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM PAYS OFF ‘This is a good news story for the industry.’ By Jeanine Moyer SWINE HEALTH ONTARIO Ontario swine veterinarians are reporting a cautiously optimistic outlook for this year’s upcoming flu season. Thanks to South West Ontario Veterinary Services’ (South West Vet Services) diligent influenza surveillance system, they have good reason to believe the approaching fall and winter months will be easier compared to previous years. For five years, industry partners including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Animal Health Lab at the University of Guelph, and South West Vet Services, have been working together to monitor, test and report influenza cases in swine herds. The information collected is used to develop and update the regional flu vaccine that is administered by South West Vet Services. In April 2023, the H3N2 virus was first detected in Ontario, began to spread rapidly, and presented a serious concern for hog farmers as it was previously identified as a dominant and endemic viral strain among pig populations across the U.S. The provincial hog influenza surveillance system quickly identified the H3N2 strain. This swift identification enabled South West Vet Services to work alongside herd health teams, proactively manage the virus by adding H3N2 to the regional swine flu vaccine in September 2023, and get ahead of prime flu season outbreaks. “This is a good news story for the industry,” says Dr. Kevin Vilaca, swine veterinarian with South West Vet Services. “While we now have to manage a new virus circulating in our herds, this break turned out to be a good news story for our industry because we now have an effective tool to reduce the impact of H3N2 within barns and across the province. This also demonstrates that not only does the flu surveillance program work, but the program benefits the entire industry.” Managing H3N2 Sow herds across Ontario began receiving the new regional vaccine in September 2023. Dr. Vilaca credits the speed at which the approvals and manufacturing of the updated vaccine were accomplished as a key factor in avoiding what could have otherwise been a more severe disease outbreak across the province. “It only took five months for the first administration of the updated regional flu vaccine from the time the H3N2 strain was detected,” he says. “Our ability to get such a large number of sow herds vaccinated in such a short period of time has been significant in mitigating the impact of this disease.” The current South West Vet Services regional flu vaccine now contains six strains, including the most recent addition of H3N2, and is designed to help animals build immunity to the specific strains. The majority of sow herds in Ontario have now been vaccinated, which puts the industry in a proactive position ahead of the upcoming flu season. Now that the H3N2 virus has been established in Ontario herds, symptoms of the H3N2 virus may still exist, especially in growing and finishing hogs. Administration of the vaccine at these stages is less likely to be effective, however, thanks to the vaccine, the overall virus load and severity has been reduced. Dr. Vilaca explains that H3N2 symptoms can be like any other flu virus in hogs. He suggests farmers watch for coughing, respiratory challenges, fevers or elevated temperatures, abortions and reduced appetite. “Like any virus, H3N2 can also make underlying conditions worse,” says Dr. Vilaca, explaining that any illnesses or bugs already circulating within a herd could be intensified with an H3N2 infection. “That’s just another reason to prevent the strain Watch for coughing, respiratory challenges, fevers or elevated temperatures, abortions, and reduced appetite. Jodie Aldred photo
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