Enhancing U.S. swine farm preparedness for infectious foreign animal diseases with rapid access to biosecurity information.

Abstract

The U.S. Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan is a voluntary program that establishes biosecurity standards to maintain business continuity. The role of biosecurity in disease spread is well recognized, yet the U.S. swine industry lacks knowledge of individual farm biosecurity and the efficacy of existing measures. Here, we (i) described a consortium among the swine industry, government, and academia that formed the Rapid Access Biosecurity application (RABapp™), (ii) summarized the farm characteristics and biosecurity of premises in RABapp™, (iii) mapped RABapp™'s biosecurity coverage of the U.S. swine population, and (iv) evaluated associations between biosecurity measures and reports of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) using multivariable logistic regression. RABapp™, used in 31 states, represented 42% of the U.S. commercial swine population. In total, 76% (234/307) of Agricultural Statistics Districts were identified as biosecurity deserts, with less than half of their swine population represented in RABapp™. Requiring footwear or clothing changes, multiple carcass disposal locations, greater distance from neighboring swine premises, using bait for rodent control, and carcass burial significantly reduced the odds of PRRSV/PEDV occurrence. Conversely, rendering carcasses, deep pit or tank manure storage, and land application of manure were associated with increased odds of infection. This study demonstrated the national importance of RABapp™ as a centralized repository and mapped SPS plan adoption. Curtailing high-risk practices and reinforcing the identified measures could help reduce the circulation of endemic disease and strengthen industry preparedness for future foreign animal disease emergencies.