Classical swine fever in The Netherlands 1997–1998: a description of organisation and measures to eradicate the disease

Rate of inter-herd transmission of classical swine fever virus by different types of contact during the 1997–8 epidemic in The Netherlands

“…A total of 429 pig herds were diagnosed as CSFV-infected during the epidemic. Shortly before depopulation, samples for virus isolation and antibody detection had been collected in all compartments of these herds according to a standard protocol [13]. On the basis of the results of these samples, for each herd a probability distribution of the day of virus introduction had been constructed in an earlier study [14].…”

Neighbourhood infections of classical swine fever during the 1997–1998 epidemic in The Netherlands

“…During recent epidemics of classical swine fever (CSF) in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, it was observed that secondary outbreaks of CSF frequently occurred in close vicinity to primary outbreaks of CSF (Koenen et al, 1996, Kramer et al, 1995Pluimers et al, 1999;Roberts, 1995;Vanthemsche, 1996). Such secondary outbreaks were classified as neighbourhood infections if (i) they occurred within 1000 m of the primary outbreak; (ii) the estimated date of virus introduction in the herd was within the infectious period of the primary outbreak, and; (iii) if there were no indications for other infection routes .…”

“…Local preventive depopulation as a control strategy was used in the European Union (EU) in CSF epidemics in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. In all three countries, herds within a radial distance of 1000 m of an infected herd were preventively depopulated (Eibers et al, 1998;Pluimers et al, 1999;Roberts, 1995;Staubach et al, 1997;Vanthemsche, 1996). However, depending on the radius of preventive depopulation, and the number of herds and pigs within that radius, the costs of this control strategy can be prohibitive.…”

Simulated epidemiological and economic effects of measures to reduce piglet supply during a classical swine fever epidemic in the Netherlands

“…As regulations prevent the marketing of these animals for human consumption, the carcasses were rendered (16).…”

“…In the 1997-1998 CSF epidemic, specific slaughterhouses were designated for welfare slaughter, but as welfare-slaughtered pigs were rendered simultaneously with pigs killed due to control measures, rendering capacity was insufficient. Only later during the epidemic was the problem partly solved by cold-storage of the welfare-slaughtered carcasses (16).…”