NOTICE: USDA Notes Progress on Swine Enteric Coronavirus Diseases Since Federal Order

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today noted its progress addressing Swine Enteric Coronavirus Disease (SECD) since issuing a Federal Order requiring the reporting of SECD to federal and state animal health officials 6 months ago.

 

Today, USDA is receiving more accurate and timely information about SECD affected herds and their locations, which allows animal health officials to better understand how the disease spreads and what measures are most effective in containing it. Prior to the Federal Order, information on these diseases was basic and limited, which made it difficult to monitor the spread or conduct disease investigations.

 

In particular, USDA has achieved the following milestones in reporting and managing SECD:

• Increasing the number of tests submitted with a premises identification number from 20 percent to greater than 75 percent and growing, allowing for more accurate monitoring of current disease incidence and spread;
• Granting two conditional licenses for vaccines, which provide producers with additional options to help protect their herds;
• Improving USDA’s ability to detect new viruses and changes to existing viruses through viral genetic sequencing; and
• Receiving information quickly and electronically through an improved information technology network with the laboratories, which allows for federal and state health officials to better understand the spread of a foreign animal disease outbreak in nearly real time.

USDA has also increased its knowledge about the viruses themselves, and we are continuing to research SECD to increase our understanding of the disease. A team of USDA epidemiologists is wrapping up its investigation of 11 potential pathways for how SECD entered the country and will analyze its findings over the next several months before drafting its report and findings.

 

USDA is using the $26.2 million in funds provided in June to offset the cost of diagnostic testing, biosecurity and herd plans for producers and veterinarians, and will continue to do so as long as funding remains.

 

As we move into the colder weather, we will continue to monitor SECD closely, using the tools we’ve already put in place. SECD is known to spread more readily in the winter months, specifically because truck washes are less effective in cold weather. Because of that, producers should also continue to be vigilant in their biosecurity practices to protect against disease introduction and spread.

 

After the winter months, we will to work with our state and industry partners to assess the effectiveness of current on-farm mitigations and determine what the SECD program should look like in the future.  

 

For more information about SECD, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/secd.

 

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