Milford chronicle., 1961-11-03
HOPE To Eradicate
Hog Cholera In u. S.
continued from page one)

| USDA to prohibit or restrict in
terstate movement of virulent hog
| cholera virus, sometimes used to
inoculate animals. incubation
with the virulent virus is consid-
| cred dangerous, because it can be-
come factor in the disease
spread. Safe vaccines that confer
| immunization more effectively are
available, and many states already
| ban or restrict the use of live vir-
uses for immunization.
In addition to controlling use of
virulent hog cholera virus, AIRS
animal disease officials consider
the following measures essential
to eradication: DHeat treatment
of garbage fed to hogs, combined
with other sanitation practices;
(2) destruction of infected and ex-
posed animals and payment of in
IDENTITIES to owners to compensate
for these losses; CD control of
animal shipments within and
across state lines; (4) prompt re-
porting of new hog cholera out
breaks; go increased vaccination,
with licensed vaccines, in areas
with high disease incidence, (6)
keeping the swine industry in
formed on progress of the cam
paign; and CD research to i'm
prove eradication techniques.
Before the campaign is start
ed, meetings will be held in var
ious states to evaluate local sit
uations and determine the degree
of federal assistance needed to
adequately supplement state pro-
grams.
In general, state participation
will involve enforcement of state
laws and regulations pertaining to
reporting the disease, quarantin-
ing of infected and exposed prem
ises, and inspection of premises.
AIRS will enforce interstate laws
and regulations, cooperate in in
spections, assist in diagnostic
work, train specialists in eradica-
tion techniques, and share the
costs of surveys and trace back
inspections necessary to deter
mine the origin of outbreaks and
likelihood of the disease spread
ing.
How cholera has been found in
the United States since 1888. 1t
threatened the existence of the
swine industry until USDA scien-
lists developed immunizing agents
shortly after 1900. Vaccines have
resulted in satisfactory degree
of control, but living with the dis
ease in this way is costly.
Hog cholera occurs in every
state Of the United States and in
all reproducing countries ex-
cept Canada and a few other ma
tions, where the disease has been
eradicated through government
action and strict measures are en-
forced to prevent it's re-entry.
According to testimony of leg
islators who introduced enabling
legislation for the program, about
$4 million in federal funds will be
required annually for the first
one or two years, about $40 mil
lion for the next four or five years
as the campaign reaches a peak
of activity, and gradually reduced
amounts for four or five years af-
ter that.
Thus, it is believed that total
federal costs of eradication will
amount to less than two years OF
losses from hog cholera at the
present rate of $50 million annual
ly. No federal money has yet been
appropriated for the program.
At present, immunization in the
United States is costing U. S. swine
producers about 45 cents per pig
marketed Successful eradication
in Canada has reduced the contin-
uing costs of maintaining that
countrys freedom from the dis
ease to half cent per pig mark
eted.
The value Of the foreign market
lost to U. S. producers because OF
hog cholera is estimated to be SIS
million annually. Eleven coun-
tries now ban or restrict pork i'm
ports from the United States.