News

It might have been the pork belly or the extensive data used to forecast whether JEV will be an ongoing issue, but either way the Apiam Pub ‘n Pork event in Bendigo was a huge success, attended by owners, managers and piggery staff representing near on 50% of Victorian pork production.

Dr Jono van Dissel hosted the event and introduced background information on the epidemiology of JEv, which circulates between water fowl and mosquitoes, but under the right circumstances spilled into infecting pigs, horses and humans.

Dr Robert Suter, epidemiologist and Apiam pig vet presented on his extensive experience as a government vet in dealing with several arboviruses over the years, including Blue Tongue virus, Murray Valley Encephalitis virus and Ross River Fever virus. Rob outlined the various factors that must align for an arbovirus outbreak to occur in the Murray Darling basin, including consecutive La Nina events and a diversion in the flight routes of the water fowl that normally migrate to the Coorong. He concluded with his bold prediction on whether this event will continue to occur in subsequent years (with a crystal ball appropriately displayed a a disclaimer!). Rob also discussed the use of potential vaccines in the event that JEv becomes endemic.

Jono and Rob then outlined the preventative measures that can be conducted on farm, with the major focus being to reduce the environmental factors that lead to proliferation of mosquitoes, as well as detailing the various control options available to prevent pigs being bitten and to repel and kill mosquitoes around piggery building and surrounding areas.

The evening was concluded with an open forum discussion to address the many myths and mysteries that have emerged since the outbreak in late February.

Copied of the presentations will be available on the ProSwine portal under Presentations over the next few days.