Detailed Explanation of Prevention and Control Knowledge for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
I. The Concept, Onset and Epidemic Characteristics of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
1. What is Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (commonly known as porcine blue ear disease) is an infectious disease of pigs caused by a virus, characterized mainly by reproductive disorders in sows, premature birth, abortion and stillbirth, and respiratory symptoms in piglets and growing pigs. It is a Class II animal disease.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome was first discovered in North Carolina in the United States in 1987. Subsequently, many countries including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, France and Denmark reported the occurrence of this disease. China first reported the presence of this disease in 1996.
2. What is Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is an acute, highly lethal disease caused by a variant strain of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus. It is characterized by a morbidity rate in piglets of up to 100%, a mortality rate of over 50%, an abortion rate in sows of over 30%, and the fact that fattening pigs can also become ill and die. It first appeared in some provinces and cities in southern China in June 2006, causing significant losses to China's pig farming industry.
3. What are the transmission routes of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus can be transmitted through multiple routes. The main sources of infection are diseased pigs and virus-carrying pigs. The virus is shed in the nasal secretions, saliva, milk secretions, semen of diseased boars and urine of diseased pigs. In the external environment, it often exists in pens, sludge, feed, forage, equipment, drinking water and sewage. It survives particularly long in drinking water and sewage, which are the main sources of transmission. Airborne transmission and contact transmission between diseased pigs are the main modes of spread of this disease. The larger the pig herd and the higher the stocking density, the greater the risk of contact transmission.
4. Is the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus highly resistant?
Overall, the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus has weak resistance to the external environment. It is sensitive to high temperature, ultraviolet light and various disinfectants, and is easily killed. It has poor thermal stability, surviving 15-20 minutes at 56°C and 10-24 hours at 37°C. When the pH value is above 7 or below 5, its infectivity can be reduced by more than 90%. However, when the virus exists in organic matter, it can survive for a longer period.
5. What are the main epidemic characteristics of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
This disease shows regional epidemics and can occur in all four seasons, with a marked increase in incidence during hot and humid seasons. Pigs of different ages and breeds can all be affected. It has a sudden onset, strong contagiousness, high morbidity, poor treatment response and high mortality, with a disease course of 7-15 days. Within the same pig herd, the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus persists in a state of continuous infection, and the virus can survive, circulate and be re-transmitted within the herd.
6. Can Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome infect humans?
Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is not a zoonotic disease and does not infect humans. In natural infection epidemics, it only infects pigs. Pigs of different ages and breeds can all be infected.
7. What diseases commonly co-infect or secondarily infect cases of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Because this disease can cause immunosuppression, it is often accompanied by mixed or secondary infections with other viruses, bacteria and parasites.
This disease commonly involves mixed or secondary infection with swine fever, porcine circovirus disease, porcine pseudorabies, swine pasteurellosis, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection of swine, colibacillosis, Haemophilus parasuis disease, porcine eperythrozoonosis and other diseases. Most cases involve dual, triple or multiple infections.
8. What are the main clinical manifestations of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
The pig herd suddenly becomes ill, with body temperature rising significantly, reaching above 41°C; depression, decreased appetite or complete loss of appetite; conjunctivitis, eyelid edema; respiratory symptoms such as coughing and panting; reddening of the skin, cyanosis of the ears, and purple-red patchy or papular skin lesions on the abdomen and extremities of the limbs; some diseased pigs show neurological symptoms such as hindquarter weakness, inability to stand or ataxia; the morbidity rate in piglets can reach 100%, the mortality rate can exceed 50%, the abortion rate in sows can exceed 30%, and adult pigs can also become ill and die.
9. What are the main pathological changes of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Naked-eye visible changes include pulmonary edema, hemorrhage and congestion, with focal dark red consolidation mainly in the cardiac and apical lobes; tonsillar hemorrhage and suppuration; cerebral hemorrhage, congestion, with softening foci and gelatinous exudate; myocardial hemorrhage and necrosis; infarct foci at the edges or surface of the spleen; lymph node hemorrhage; kidneys appearing earth-yellow with pinpoint to millet-sized hemorrhagic spots visible on the surface; some cases show gastrointestinal hemorrhage, ulceration and necrosis. The above lesions vary with individual differences among pigs and different stages of the disease.
II. The Harm Caused by Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and the Situation Faced
10. What is the pig "high fever disease"?
Since June 2006, pig "high fever disease" occurred in some provinces and cities in southern China. From June to September, more than 3 million pigs became ill, with a mortality rate of 10-30%, and in some cases even reaching 50-100%. In some epidemic areas, pig stocks decreased by 60%, causing significant economic losses to the pig farming industry. Through epidemiological investigations, pathogen isolation and identification, animal experiments and other scientific research efforts carried out by relevant units, it was determined that the epidemic was mainly caused by a variant strain of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus. In April 2007, the Ministry of Agriculture officially designated it as "Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome."
11. What is the current occurrence of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome in China?
According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, from January to May this year, 22 provinces and autonomous regions, 194 county-level occurrences and 289 epidemic points across the country experienced Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome outbreaks to varying degrees, with 45,858 pigs affected and 18,597 deaths. Since the end of April, an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome occurred in Silao Town, Yuncheng District, Yunfu City, Guangdong Province, where a total of 2,981 pigs were kept, 1,640 became ill and 331 died. Some provinces and cities neighboring our province have already seen outbreaks. In some severely affected areas, pig stocks decreased by more than 60%, and many small and medium-sized pig farms closed down as a result.
12. What harm does Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome cause?
The variant strain of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus has strong pathogenicity and spreads quickly, resulting in high morbidity and mortality in pig herds; this disease can also cause immunosuppression in pigs, leading to vaccination failure against other diseases and often causing mixed or secondary infections with multiple pathogens. Wherever the epidemic strikes, pig farmers suffer heavy losses. The pig farming industry occupies a pivotal position in China's animal husbandry, and pig diseases, especially Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, cause great harm to the pig farming industry, can cause significant losses to pig farmers, and affect farmers' increased production and income.
13. What is the significance of carrying out prevention and control of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Although Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is not a Class I animal disease or a zoonotic disease, if prevention and control are not carried out well, it will seriously harm the development of the pig farming industry, seriously affect farmers' income growth, and affect the stability of the pork consumption market. Doing a good job in the prevention and control of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is not only an urgent need to ensure the sustained and healthy development of animal husbandry, but also an urgent need to promote rural economic development and increase farmers' income.
III. Diagnosis of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
14. What are the diagnostic indicators?
(1) Clinical indicators: significantly elevated body temperature, reaching above 41°C; conjunctivitis, eyelid edema; respiratory symptoms such as coughing and panting; some pigs showing neurological symptoms such as hindquarter weakness, inability to stand or ataxia; morbidity rate in piglets reaching up to 100%, mortality rate reaching over 50%; abortion rate in sows reaching over 30%; adult pigs can also become ill and die.
(2) Pathological indicators: infarct foci visible at the edges or surface of the spleen, with hemorrhagic infarction seen under the microscope; kidneys appearing earth-yellow with pinpoint to millet-sized hemorrhagic spots visible on the surface; hemorrhagic spots and patches visible under the skin, in the tonsils, heart, bladder, liver and intestines; some cases showing gastrointestinal hemorrhage, ulceration and necrosis. Under the microscope, interstitial nephritis, hemorrhagic and exudative inflammation of the heart, liver and bladder and other lesions can be seen.
(3) Etiological indicators:
A. Positive isolation and identification of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus.
B. Positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus.
15. How are diagnostic results determined?
(1) Meeting the clinical indicators and pathological indicators can be judged as suspected Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome.
(2) For suspected outbreaks, confirmation of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome can be made upon positive virus isolation and identification or positive RT-PCR detection.
16. How are diagnostic samples collected and submitted for testing?
Because Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome often involves mixed or secondary infection with other diseases, for more comprehensive diagnostic testing, sample collection should be thorough:
(1) Virological testing samples: collect brain, lung, spleen, liver, tonsil, lymph node, serum and other samples from dying pigs, refrigerate promptly for submission, and freeze for preservation if they cannot be submitted the same day.
(2) Bacteriological testing samples: spleen, liver, heart, kidney, blood smears and other materials; the sample volume should be as large as possible, and samples should be refrigerated promptly for submission.
(3) Parasitological testing samples: intestinal and bacteriological testing samples, refrigerated for submission.
(4) Serological testing samples: serum samples from at least 5 diseased pigs and pigs in the same herd are required, with each serum sample being at least 2 milliliters, refrigerated for submission.
Collected diagnostic samples should be packaged separately and labeled, and submitted together with the sampling registration form to the Sichuan Provincial Animal Disease Surveillance and Diagnosis Center for testing. (Address: No. 30 Jialing Road, Chengdu; Telephone: 028-85086055, 85096531)
17. How can ordinary Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome be distinguished from Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Compared with ordinary Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome shows higher morbidity and mortality, a higher abortion rate in sows, and fattening pigs can also become ill. Diseased pigs have elevated body temperature reaching above 41°C, conjunctivitis, eyelid edema, hind limb weakness and so on. Confirmation must be made through laboratory testing.
18. How long does it take to test for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
The China Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center has developed a dedicated diagnostic reagent for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus. When used in combination with the general Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome detection kit, the two can be distinguished. Laboratory testing for this disease takes 1-2 days.
IV. Prevention and Control Measures for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
19. Is there a vaccine to prevent Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
The new inactivated vaccine for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome was jointly developed by the China Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center and the China Institute of Veterinary Drug Control, using the prevalent variant strain of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome as the seed virus. Through a series of trials including seed virus screening, pilot production, clinical trials and expanded clinical trials, it was confirmed to have a good immune effect against the Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus, with an immune protection rate exceeding 80%. This vaccine overcomes the problems of high price, easy reversion to virulence and unreliable efficacy associated with similar foreign virus vaccines. On April 29, after the new inactivated vaccine for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome passed review, the Ministry of Agriculture urgently arranged for 12 enterprises to produce the vaccine. The introduction of this vaccine will play an important role in the prevention and control of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome.
20. Can the ordinary Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome live vaccine prevent Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Research results from the China Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center show that the live vaccine has an immune protective effect against the classical Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus strain, but has poor protection against the variant strain of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus currently prevalent in China. (Because live vaccines may have instability issues, it is recommended that large-scale pig farms choose inactivated vaccines when preventing classical Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome.)
21. How can prevention and control of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome be carried out well?
Prevention of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome must start with scientific farming, improving the rearing environment, strengthening comprehensive management and adopting reasonable immunization programs. The following main points should be done well:
(1) Scientific immunization. Immunization is an effective means of preventing various diseases. Especially since there are many types of vaccines that need to be administered at present, it is essential to follow the recommendations of local veterinary departments, formulate reasonable immunization programs, and carry out immunization against Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, swine fever and other animal diseases in a timely manner. Under normal circumstances, commercial pigs are immunized once with the Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome vaccine at 23-25 days of age. Breeding sows, in addition to immunization at 23-25 days of age, should receive a booster immunization before mating. Breeding boars, in addition to immunization at 23-25 days of age, should also be immunized once every 6 months. In affected areas, it is recommended to carry out a booster immunization 21-28 days after the first immunization or emergency immunization. While doing a good job in preventing Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, it is also necessary to do a good job in preventing other diseases such as swine fever, swine streptococcosis and foot-and-mouth disease. For preventing swine fever, it is best to use a monovalent vaccine, with 4-5 doses per pig; large-scale pig farms should preferably use spleen and lymph tissue vaccine. It is recommended that large-scale pig farms strengthen monitoring of herd immune antibodies and promptly re-vaccinate when effective protective antibody levels are low.
(2) Strict quarantine. Piglets should be purchased from areas without epidemics. Before purchase, quarantine certificates should be checked. After purchase, they must be isolated and raised for more than 14 days, and only mixed into the herd for rearing when there are no abnormal conditions.
(3) Strengthen feeding management. Adopt the "all-in, all-out" farming model. In winter, attention should be paid both to keeping the pig house warm and to ventilation. In hot seasons, do a good job in ventilation and heat prevention and cooling of the pig house, and provide sufficient clean drinking water. Keep the pig house dry, maintain reasonable stocking density and reduce stress factors. Ensure sufficient nutrition to enhance the disease resistance of the pig herd, and prohibit mixed rearing of pigs, chickens, ducks and other animals. Free-range pigs should be raised in pens.
(4) Strict disinfection. Do a good job in environmental sanitation, promptly remove manure and excreta from pig houses, and carry out harmless treatment of various contaminated items. Use disinfectants such as compound aldehyde agents to disinfect farms, pig houses and surrounding environments. Rural free-range households can use fresh quicklime to disinfect pig pens and enclosures.
(5) Drug prevention of secondary infections. Under the guidance of veterinary technical personnel, select appropriate antibacterial drugs and formulate reasonable medication plans to prevent bacterial secondary infections in the pig herd.
(6) Report diseased pigs when found. Upon discovering diseased pigs, immediately isolate them and immediately report to the local animal husbandry and veterinary department, and handle them according to relevant regulations under the guidance of local veterinary personnel.
(7) Strictly dispose of dead pigs. In accordance with the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China and relevant national regulations, strictly adopt the "four noes and one treatment" disposal measures for dead pigs, namely no slaughtering, no consumption, no selling and no transportation; dead pigs must undergo harmless treatment. Dead pigs and their manure and bedding can be deep-buried; where conditions permit, dead pigs and their contaminants can be centrally incinerated.
(8) Do a good job in preventing other diseases. While doing a good job in preventing Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, it is also necessary to do a good job in preventing other pig diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, swine fever and swine streptococcosis.
22. How is the inactivated vaccine for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome used, and what issues should be noted?
This vaccine is used to prevent Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome; it is injected intramuscularly behind the ear.
Piglets aged 3 weeks and above: 2 milliliters per pig; according to local epidemic conditions, a booster immunization can be given 21-28 days after the first immunization;
Sows: 4 milliliters before mating;
Breeding boars: once every 6 months, 4 milliliters each time.
This vaccine is only for vaccinating healthy pigs and should not be used for diseased or infected herds; it should be used with caution in pregnant sows to avoid causing mechanical abortion; vaccination must not be carried out within 21 days before slaughter; vaccination equipment should be sterile, the injection site should be strictly disinfected, and one needle should be used per pig to avoid cross-contamination; after vaccination, individual pigs may show reactions such as elevated body temperature and reduced feeding, which generally recover on their own within 2 days; in severe cases, epinephrine can be injected and auxiliary treatment measures taken.
23. What issues should be noted when immunizing pigs?
First, use vaccines produced by enterprises approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, and manage vaccines well, storing and transporting them according to vaccine storage conditions.
Second, during immunization, operate in accordance with the requirements of the vaccine product instructions, and carry out harmless treatment of waste.
Third, do a good job in all disinfection work, and ensure "one needle per pig" to prevent cross-infection.
Fourth, where conditions permit, do a good job in immune monitoring; when the qualified rate of immune antibodies does not meet the required standards, carry out a booster immunization as soon as possible.
Fifth, when animal epidemics occur in surrounding areas, carry out emergency immunization according to the requirements of local veterinary departments.
Sixth, establish complete immunization records.
24. How is preventive disinfection for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome carried out?
In order to prevent the occurrence of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome outbreaks, farms (households) and slaughterhouses should regularly clean and chemically disinfect pig rearing pens, pig passageways, slaughter workshops and other sites and related equipment. Under normal circumstances, disinfect 2-3 times per week. When disinfecting, choose new, broad-spectrum, low-irritation disinfectants, such as compound aldehyde or peroxide disinfectants, and alternate the use of multiple disinfectants.
V. Reporting and Handling of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Outbreaks
25. What should be done when pigs are found to suddenly become ill or die in large numbers?
The Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that any unit or individual who discovers acute illness and death in pigs should promptly report to the local animal epidemic prevention supervision agency.
26. What are the regulations on the reporting and confirmation procedures for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome outbreaks?
The National Emergency Response Plan for Major Animal Epidemics and the Technical Specifications for the Prevention and Control of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome stipulate that after receiving a report or learning of a clinically suspected outbreak, the local animal epidemic prevention agency should immediately dispatch 2 experts to the scene to conduct preliminary investigation and verification, and provide preliminary diagnostic opinions. If the on-site determination is a suspected Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome outbreak, the situation should be reported level by level to the provincial animal epidemic prevention supervision general station within 2 hours, and samples should be collected and sent to the provincial animal disease surveillance and diagnosis center or a state-designated laboratory for confirmation. The provincial veterinary administrative department and animal epidemic control agency shall report the outbreak to the Ministry of Agriculture in accordance with relevant regulations. The veterinary administrative department of the State Council shall announce the outbreak in accordance with regulations based on the confirmation results. The Ministry of Agriculture requires that starting from June 10, 2007, a daily report and zero-report system shall be implemented for Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome.
27. How should a suspected Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome outbreak be handled?
Implement isolation and monitoring of the affected farm/household, prohibit the movement of diseased pigs and their products and related items, and carry out strict disinfection of the internal and external environments. Carry out harmless treatment of dead pigs, contaminants or suspected contaminants. When necessary, cull diseased pigs and pigs in the same herd and carry out harmless treatment, while collecting samples for laboratory diagnosis.
28. After the occurrence of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, what measures should local governments take to eliminate the outbreak?
Once a Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome outbreak is confirmed, all localities should activate emergency response plans at the corresponding level according to the epidemic situation and formulate emergency disposal plans. The veterinary administrative department at or above the county level in the locality shall delineate the epidemic point, epidemic area and threatened area, and the local veterinary administrative department shall apply to the local people's government at or above the county level for the issuance of a blockade order, implement a blockade on the epidemic area, and adopt comprehensive prevention and control measures for the epidemic point, epidemic area and threatened area to promptly eliminate the outbreak.
29. How are the epidemic point, epidemic area and threatened area of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome delineated?
The veterinary administrative department at or above the county level shall delineate the epidemic point, epidemic area and threatened area based on the specific circumstances of the Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome outbreak.
Epidemic point: the location where the diseased pigs are located. For large-scale farms/households, the relatively independent rearing pen where the diseased pigs are located is the epidemic point; for free-range pigs, the natural village where the diseased pigs are located is the epidemic point; during transportation, the vehicle is the epidemic point; if an outbreak is found in a market, the market is the epidemic point; if an outbreak is found during slaughter and processing, the slaughter and processing plant/yard is the epidemic point.
Epidemic area: the area extending 3 kilometers outward from the edge of the epidemic point. It is delineated after comprehensive assessment based on the epidemiological investigation of the outbreak, immune status, rearing environment around the epidemic point, natural barriers (such as rivers, mountains, etc.) and other factors.
Threatened area: the area extending 5 kilometers outward from the edge of the epidemic area is designated as the threatened area.
30. What are the blockade measures for a Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome epidemic area?
Set up warning signs around the epidemic area, and set up animal quarantine and disinfection stations at traffic intersections entering and exiting the epidemic area; disinfect vehicles and related items entering and exiting the epidemic area; close the live pig trading market in the epidemic area and prohibit the transport of live pigs and their products out of the epidemic area. When necessary, with the approval of the provincial people's government, temporary supervision and inspection stations may be established to carry out supervision and inspection tasks.
31. What measures should be taken at the epidemic point of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Urgently cull all diseased pigs and pigs in the same herd at the epidemic point; carry out harmless treatment of dead pigs, excreta, contaminated feed, bedding and sewage; thoroughly disinfect contaminated items, vehicles, equipment, pig houses and sites.
32. What measures should be taken in the epidemic area of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Thoroughly disinfect contaminated items, vehicles, equipment, pig houses and sites in the epidemic area; carry out emergency immunization of all pigs with the Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome inactivated vaccine, and strengthen epidemic monitoring.
33. What measures should be taken in the threatened area of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Carry out emergency immunization of all pigs in the threatened area with the Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome inactivated vaccine, and strengthen epidemic monitoring.
34. How is disinfection carried out during emergency outbreak handling?
After the occurrence of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, in order to rapidly and promptly eliminate the outbreak, emergency disinfection is carried out at the epidemic point and epidemic area once a day. When disinfecting, choose new, broad-spectrum, low-irritation disinfectants, such as compound aldehyde or peroxide disinfectants, and alternate the use of multiple disinfectants.
35. After the occurrence of Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, how should raisers or slaughterhouses cooperate with local government departments to urgently eliminate the outbreak?
When Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome occurs in pigs being raised or slaughtered, the raiser or slaughterhouse owner should actively cooperate with government departments in counting the number of pigs, provide power supply and cleaning tools, cooperate with culling operations, actively carry out disinfection and emergency immunization of pig herds (animals) not culled, and must not refuse or obstruct the elimination of the outbreak; otherwise, responsibility will be pursued in accordance with relevant laws.
36. After the blockade of a Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome epidemic area, when is the blockade lifted?
After the blockade of a Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome epidemic area, when more than 14 days have passed since the last diseased pig in the epidemic area was culled or died and no new outbreak has appeared, under the supervision and guidance of the local animal epidemic prevention supervision agency, terminal disinfection of relevant sites and items shall be carried out. After passing inspection by the local animal epidemic prevention supervision agency, the local veterinary administrative department shall submit an application, and the people's government that originally issued the blockade order shall announce the lifting of the blockade.
37. Is it illegal to deal in, transport or slaughter pigs that are diseased (dead) from Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome?
Dealing in, transporting or slaughtering pigs that are diseased (dead) from Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is illegal. According to the relevant provisions of the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China and other laws and regulations, it is prohibited to deal in, transport or slaughter animals that died of disease or unknown causes, and no unit or individual may arbitrarily dispose of animals that died of disease or unknown causes. If excreta from infected animals, infected animals, or animals that died of disease or unknown causes are not disposed of in accordance with relevant national regulations, the animal epidemic prevention supervision agency shall issue a warning; if refusal to correct persists, the animal epidemic prevention supervision agency shall handle it on behalf of the violator in accordance with the law, and the costs incurred shall be borne by the violator. If pigs that died of disease or unknown causes are dealt in, transported or slaughtered, the animal epidemic prevention supervision agency shall order the cessation of business, immediately take effective measures to recall animals already sold, and in serious cases, may also impose a fine of not more than five times the illegal gains.