Any veterinarians or producers that do submit samples do contribute to the process.Within the program though, no one is identified, the information is reported on a state level and only by the number of cases submitted.It is important because we can identify what age groups are affected, what diseases are being seen, is there a seasonality of when diseases are being seen as well as other information regarding the diseases that are being monitored.
For example, as we look at the PRRS virus, it does give us a very seasonal pattern of when infections are seen and when case positivity goes up or down.But it does also give people an idea and understanding of what type of viruses are being seen and this is very important because it does show a certain regionality of disease transmission and identification and that can be significantly different for example between the Midwest or the southeast.
Having this knowledge give producers and their veterinarians a way to be able to predict how to treat or manage their pigs when they're going to different systems and or, depending on the different risks they face, even in their own area.
SHIC's domestic and global swine disease monitoring reports can be accessed at swinehealth.org.
Source : Farmscape.ca