Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a major focus for Boehringer Ingelheim, which sponsored a press conference at the recent World Pork Expo to talk about some of the latest in PRRS-control strategies.

Dr. Reid Phillips, with BI’s Swine Enteric Technical Services, says they strive to encourage collaborative research in the field and continue to evaluate their modified live vaccine (MLV) and the role it plays in PRRS control. “We know that the vaccine has been effective in a prophylactic model 3-4 weeks ahead of exposure for mitigation of infection,” Reid told me. “We are also looking at using the vaccine in a therapeutic model, reducing the amount of virus transmitted within positive populations.” He says the early evidence of that looks very good, which would mean lowering the risk of the virus moving within regions.

Reid says BI is a family-owned company that is committed to overall animal health and they have been focused on PRRS research since 1994. “We want to do whatever it takes and we believe we are making progress,” he said.

Listen to or download my interview with Reid here: