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Accountabilities in the Age of Transboundary and Emerging Porcine Diseases - Tom Alexander Memorial Lecture
J.C.S. Harding
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It is a great honor to present the Tom Alexander Memorial Lecture today. Few researchers have had such a profound influence on swine health. Dr. Alexander's accomplishments include fundamental breakthroughs many of us, younger by decades, take for granted: the discovery of spirochaetes causing swine dysentery(1), the epidemiology and control of Streptococcus suis type 2 infections(2), characterizing viral encephalomyelitis of nursery pigs in Ontario(3) now known as HEV, and fundamental theories of high health status breeding pyramids(4), specific pathogen free derivation(5) and medicated early weaning(6). A scholar and English gentleman, Dr. Alexander is an icon in the swine industry. I am proud to have helped establish the inaugural Tom Alexander Memorial Lecture at the 21st IPVS in Vancouver, and pleased the 22nd and 23rd IPVS organizing committees committed to continuing his legacy.
Never before has the risk of transboundary and emerging diseases been so real. The "perfect storm" caused by swine industry intensification, globalization, societal and environmental encroachment is having an insidious impact on the global swine industry. Many working in the swine industry have a modest understanding of the issues but continue to focus locally, rather than globally. This is understandable given that needs of local clients must be served. With the advent of PEDV in North America and ASF in Eastern Europe, attitudes however, are beginning to change.
I would like to thank Drs. Jeff Zimmerman and Jesus Hernandez for the invitation to present this lecture. My goal is to awaken swine veterinarians globally regarding the present threats, contributing factors, and necessary actions to help control catastrophic transboundary and emerging diseases. While I am at risk of sensationalizing and sounding alarmist, it is not my intent. I am passionate that we begin to heed the warnings and work towards constructive solutions.
My presentation has three parts: A) a review of some of the current transboudary and emerging disease threats, B) a summary of expert opinions pertaining to the control of catastrophic swine diseases, and C) my assessment of what should be done and who is accountable. I sincerely hope this paper provides some insight and evidence that we need to act now because the current situation will only deteriorate.
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Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication
Department Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
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