Swientist ASF Prevention Initiative – Provided by The Ohio State University
Biosecurity is an important measure that we can take to make sure that we keep disease out of our barns and out of our homes. Some may know biosecurity concepts better than others, but for most people, it is hard to know where to start. This can especially be true at livestock shows where we can have hundreds of animals from different counties or states come together. The swientist team wants to make implementing biosecurity practices easy for everyone, especially at shows, which is why we are introducing The Swientist ASF Prevention Initiative and Biosecurity Toolkit. This is a free toolkit that will ship directly to your location at no cost! Below is what you will find in the toolkit, and how it could be implemented at your event.
To receive your toolkit go to go.osu.edu/biosecuritytoolkit, or scan the QR code attached and fill out the survey.
About the Initiative
The biosecurity initiative is a collaborative effort designed to empower educators and organizers with tools to enhance biosecurity practices, mitigate risks, and protect swine populations against the threat of Foreign Animal Diseases (FADs), including African Swine Fever (ASF). With the growing concern surrounding ASF and its potential impact on the pork industry, implementing consistent and effective biosecurity measures has never been more important. This is why we created the “Show Organizer’s Guide to Preventing Swine Infectious Diseases” and the corresponding toolkit.
What is the guide and toolkit?
The Show Organizer’s Guide is a comprehensive set of resources tailored to support your outreach and educational efforts specifically for swine show biosecurity. It includes:
Educational Materials:
Printable signs, fact sheets, and infographics covering ASF prevention, symptoms, and response protocols.Biosecurity Protocols:
Step-by-step guidelines for implementing effective biosecurity measures at exhibitions.Communication Templates:
Meeting item recommendations and poster signage to help spread awareness quickly and effectively.
The guide has actionable steps for preventing Foreign Animal Diseases (FADs) and coordinating with stakeholders. The toolkit includes items to assist with the recommendations in the guide; including PPE, signage, disinfectant, and more.
How You Can Use These Resources
These materials are designed to help you get started with your biosecurity measures, or to help improve your existing programs and can be adapted for various audiences, including livestock shows or other places where humans and livestock may interact. We encourage you to use to the toolkit to encourage preparedness by emphasizing the importance of good biosecurity to prevent FAD threats. To receive your toolkit go to go.osu.edu/biosecuritytoolkit and complete the survey.
Please contact swientist@osu.edu with any questions.
