Sudden Temperature Changes: Farmers Should Guard Against Swine Influenza

Swine influenza is an acute disease caused by the swine influenza A virus

highly contagious infectious disease. It is mainly characterized by sudden onset in pigs, rapid spread, high morbidity, low mortality, high fever, and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

Epidemiological features: 1. It has obvious seasonality, occurring mostly in autumn and winter and in spring when temperatures change abruptly, and pigs are especially prone to the disease when it is damp and rainy. 2. Pigs of all ages, sexes, and breeds can be infected and become ill. 3. It often occurs as an endemic or pandemic. 4. It spreads rapidly, and within 2 to 3 days it can affect the entire herd. 5. It is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract via droplets. 6. Poor feeding and management, excessive fatigue from long-distance transport, and overcrowding are all factors that promote the onset of the disease.

Symptoms: The incubation period is short, from several hours to several days, averaging 4 days. The disease begins suddenly, with body temperature rising to 40°C to 41.5°C, listlessness, reduced appetite or refusal to eat, and rapid spread through the entire herd. There is muscle pain, unwillingness to stand, accelerated breathing, coughing, and sticky fluid discharge from the eyes and nose. If there are no secondary complications, it often resolves on its own in about a week.

Prevention: 1. Once this disease occurs, affected pigs should immediately be isolated and treated on site. 2. Pens, tools, troughs, and other items contaminated by affected pigs should be thoroughly disinfected with disinfectants such as Qiangli Xiaoduling and Mieduwei. 3. Avoid overcrowding of pigs, pay attention to cold protection and warmth, and keep pig pens clean and dry. 4. Strengthen feeding and management, and deworm regularly.

Treatment: Use 5 ml to 10 ml of 30% analgin injection, or 5 ml to 10 ml of Banlangen injection, by intramuscular injection, twice daily for 2 to 4 consecutive days. To control secondary infection, use 20 g each of Chaihu, Bohe, and Chenpi, and 15 g each of Juhua, Tufuling, and Zisu, decoct them together in water, and administer orally at one time, once daily, for 1 to 2 consecutive doses.

Nursing: While carrying out treatment, feeding and management should also be strengthened, and easily digestible feed should be given, especially more green feed, to supplement vitamins and keep the bowels open. In the first few days of recovery, feeding should be restricted and then gradually increased to avoid indigestion.