Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, better knows as PRRS, costs the U.S. swine industry about $560 million a year, so eradicating that disease could have a significant impact for producers. Dr. Scott Dee with the Swine Disease Eradication Center at the University of Minnesota believes it is possible within 20 years.

“I’m going to be optimistic,” Dr. Dee said at a World Pork Expo press conference on Thursday organized by Boehringer Ingelheim.

He outlined several PRRS-control strategies that he believes show great promise for eradicating the disease. Among them, air filtration systems to control aerosol transmission of the virus, modified live vaccines used in an infected population to reduce spread of the virus within the herd, and oral fluid diagnostic sampling that he expects to completely replace blood sampling.

Other tools he says will help toward eradicating PRRS are geographical information systems and on-farm risk assessment programs, such as the PADRAP – Production Animal Disease Risk Assessment Program, which he called “a gift” from Boehringer Ingelheim to swine veterinarians.

Listen to Scott talk about why he is optimistic here: wpx09-scott-dee.mp3

Download the audio here: Dr. Scott Dee

I also have an interview of Scott being interviewed by Chad Moyer with KRVN and Mike Murphy with KSUM/KFMC, pictured above, that I will try to get edited and posted later.
* post updated with interview below *

Interview with Dr. Scott Dee: wpx09-dee-interview.mp3

Download the audio here: Dee Interview


World Pork Expo 09 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo made possible by Novus International and Boehringer Ingelheim