MSU Extension Swine Influenza

Isolate

• Isolate all ill pigs and their pen mates in a location away from the swine barn, other animals, and people. Either at the exhibitor’s home (if isolation from other pigs there is possible) or in a different barn or trailer.
• Pigs that are isolated at home need to be isolated for 10 days (minimum) and good biosecurity must be practiced by the owners to not put their other pigs or themselves at risk for influenza. Owners should work with their private veterinarian.
• Designate personnel to care for sick pigs, including keeping them cool and hydrated.
• Obtain necessary biosecurity supplies (bleach/disinfectant, coveralls, disposable boots, gloves, masks etc.). 
  • Disinfect handout for swine equipment
• Limit access to the barn to essential fair-personnel only for feeding, watering, and caring for the pigs remaining in the barn.

Inform

• Inform the fair veterinarian and relevant fair personnel of results.
• Convene fair personnel and 4-H staff to discuss the response plan and enhanced biosecurity measures.
• Designate a point-person to manage the situation and answer questions from the public and the media.
• Ensure the specific exhibitors whose pigs were influenza-positive are informed (reportable animal disease information is protected like HIPAA is for humans).
• Contact Local Health Department and inform them of test results and that you have been in contact with MDARD.
  • You will likely be asked by your health department for the names and contact information of all exhibitors, those exhibitors that have sick pigs, and all fair personnel having contact with any pigs.
  • You will also be asked to provide the names and contact information of the truckers/transporters and processors that will transport/slaughter any pigs from the fair.
• Schedule a meeting with exhibitors and discuss measures that will be taken to provide for safety of the public, exhibitors and pigs. 
  • Exhibitor meeting parent/exhibitor hand-out
  • Exhibitor meeting check-list
  • Swine influenza health safety tips
  • Sample exhibitor letter
• Inform exhibitors of good biosecurity practices and to be cautious to not infect pigs at their home.

Implement

• Proper biosecurity needs to be implemented when entering the swine barn. At a minimum, this should include:
  • Wearing coveralls that remain in the barn.
  • Disinfecting boots designated for the barn.
  • Washing hands before exiting the swine barn.
  • If available, wear a face mask, and if available use disposable booties and gloves.
  • All equipment used in the swine barn should remain in the barn and be disinfected with appropriate disinfectant before it is removed.
• Consider closing the swine barn to the public and only allowing designated essential fair personnel to enter the barn for feeding, watering, and caring for pigs in the barn.
  • Signs for closed barns
• Monitor closely any neighbor pigs that had nose-to-nose contact will ill/febrile pigs.
• Start to coordinate having healthy pigs removed from the fair earlier than planned (to slaughter, if terminal show, or home for isolation if breeder-class pigs). The earlier you remove them the less likely they will become sick.
  • Signs for pigs being shipped early
• Consider not having pigs go through the sale ring; instead only have exhibitors go through with pictures of their pigs.
  • Sample buyer letter regarding swine influenza
• Plan for the possibility that sick pigs will need to be held over until healthy enough to go to market. Remember pigs that are ill or febrile (>103.5) may not be slaughtered.
  • Remember to observe the appropriate slaughter withdrawal times if pigs have been treated.
• Plan for cleaning and disinfecting the barn after pigs have all been removed.

Please visit www.canr.msu.edu/swine_influenza and click on “Preventive Tips for Fairs and Exhibitions” and “Fair and Event Resources” for more information and resources regarding swine influenza mitigation and response.