March 20, 2008

Netherlands maps high-risk areas of classical swine fever
 

The Dutch Central Veterinary Institute, CVI, has mapped out high-risk spreading areas for classical swine fever in order to handle an outbreak more effectively.

The mapped out areas will enable the Dutch government to handle a disease outbreak more effectively by considering regional differences. For example, an outbreak can be contained in a low risk area via culling whereas a high-risk area would require vaccination.

The model is based on a classical swine fever outbreak in the Netherlands during 1997-1998.

Early warning plays a more important role than the assistance the maps could offer. Therefore, the CVI has advised livestock producers and veterinarians to immediately send blood samples to them should anything unusual arise in a farm.