Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is a viral disease that causes reproductive problems in sows and it has a respiratory component in which pigs are susceptible to respiratory disease and it was among the topics discussed this week as part of the International Pig Veterinary Society Congress in Vancouver.

Canadian Swine Health Board chair Florian Possberg says, the board is taking steps to define the extent of the PRRS problem in Canada and developing strategies to reduce its effect with the eventual goal of eliminating the disease.

Florian Possberg-Canadian Swine Health Board

It certainly is possible to gain control of the disease, actually take a positive herd and following certain procedures actually make it negative and that has been shown.

There's quite a number of units in Canada, particularly western Canada, that have been able to do that.

It's important though to work closely with your neighbors and set up biosecurity protocols within your own unit to prevent the re-infection of the herd.

The whole process needs to be a well thought out plan to cover all the bases.

It will be much more successful if we do it regionally and have groups of producers who could potentially contaminate each others herds to work in unison and that way we can actually get a regional approach where everyone has the opportunity to benefit.

Mr Possberg says the good news is if a whole region can become PRRS negative, the possibility of reinfection goes down significantly.

Further Reading

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Find out more information on PRRS by clicking here.