After some backyard hogs in Oregon State contracted the bird flu, the Swine Health Information Center has its guard up. The highly pathogenic avian influenza is not the only animal disease that the center is watching, but it's new on the list since it was found in a few pigs in October. Associate Director Lisa Becton says SHIC has a new H5N1 Research Program and is seeking proposals. 

Becton also updates the Mid-West Farm Report on the Japanese encephalitis virus research.

Finally, she highlights the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program that investigates research priorities in three areas – bioexclusion (keeping disease off the farm), biocontainment (after a break, keeping disease on the farm to lessen risk to neighbors), and transportation biosecurity (live haul, culls, markets, deadstock, and feed haul along with innovative ways to stop pathogens from moving from markets and concentration points back to the farm). The goal of the program is to leverage funds to develop new tools and technologies that can enhance biosecurity in the wean-to-harvest phases of swine production.