Can you play the piano?

Can you play the piano? This may seem like a misplaced question, but the Senior Vice President of Animal Health at Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics LLC and former Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jerry Torrison, says it’s equivalent to the question of whether the US is ready for a Foreign animal disease (FAD).  

• Some areas are still learning basic songs while others are venturing into more complex compositions, but the concern is that an FAD could be widespread in the US before it’s detected.

Dr. Torrison points out seven weaknesses the country may have:

• Harvest facility and processor shutdowns – longer even than those during COVID-19;
• Like Europe, feral pigs are out and about and pose a risk of infecting backyard or semi-extensive pig operations;
• Just like during the pandemic, if there were an FAD outbreak, there would be a lot of pressure on the bankers and financiers for the plants, since continuous use of insurance is expensive;
• Viral transmission through feed is worrisome;
• Labs could respond in the face of an outbreak, but they would need a continuous flow of samples – this requires training for non-veterinarian sample collectors.

Finally, he says that being ready to work together is vital – and so is taking part in state disease preparedness programs and encouraging a culture of openness about issues.