Dr Ernest Sanford, president of the 21st IPVS Congress in Vancouver, told delegates at the closing ceremony: "It has been a wonderful congress and a smashing success." Records were broken with a final total of 2,741 registrations from 66 countries and 1,168 abstracts received.

He attributed the "fabulous outcome" success to the attractions of both the city of Vancouver and the strong scientific programme, which was more diversified than previous events. New topics on the programme this time were Postweaning Wasting/Catabolic Syndrome (PWCS), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), H1N1 influenza and different methods of castration. PRRS and PCV were also well covered topics with several sessions each.

The 21st Congress, he said, had very successfully "delivered its theme of 'Sharing Ideas, Advancing Pig Health'".

Dr Sanford told delegates that the IPVS Board had agreed two resolutions: firstly, to continue the Tom Alexander Lecture for future IPVS congresses, and second, to appoint a permanent secretariat to maintain the IPVS web site and databases as well as to provide some continuity between conferences.

At the closing ceremony, Dr Sanford handed over the presidency to Dr Won Hyung Lee of South Korea, who is Chairman of the organising committee at the next Congress – the 22nd – which will be held in Jeju on 10 to 13 June 2012. This appears to be another fine location for IPVS and Dr Won promised a strong programme with the theme, 'Happy Pigs, Healthy People'.

And finally, Cancun in Mexico was chosen by the registered delegates for the following congress – the 23rd – which will take place on 8 to 11 June 2014, organised by the Mexican Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Further Reading

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Go to our previous news item on PWCS by clicking here.