New training videos and a written user guide have been released to support adoption and effective use of the Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program web application, a disease investigation tool funded by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC).
The web-based application, launched in 2023 and developed by Iowa State University, was created to standardize the way swine disease outbreak investigations are conducted and documented, allowing data to be captured consistently and stored securely.
According to Dr. Lisa Becton, Associate Director at SHIC, the tool is most often used during active outbreak investigations to help identify risk areas and potential causes of disease introduction on farms.
The application enables consistent data collection during outbreak investigations, which helps pinpoint how diseases may be entering production systems. By standardizing how investigations are conducted and recorded, the program supports improved biosecurity by identifying recurring vulnerabilities that can be addressed proactively.
Dr. Becton emphasized that the ability to measure and document outbreak investigations is critical to preventing future disease events. A standardized approach allows investigations to be performed in a consistent manner and creates the opportunity to aggregate and analyze results across farms. This not only helps individual operations identify hazards and areas for improvement, but also provides the industry with broader insight into where disease risks are consistently occurring across swine production systems.
The system allows reports to be generated at both the individual farm level and at summary levels, making it easier to share findings with farm managers, veterinarians, and production staff. These reports can then be used to review what occurred during an outbreak and identify opportunities to strengthen biosecurity and reduce future risk.
Producers or veterinarians interested in using the Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program web application must contact Iowa State University to establish an account and gain access. Additional information and related links are available through SHIC’s December eNewsletter at swinehealth.org.
The release of new training materials is intended to improve usability and encourage broader adoption of the tool, supporting more consistent outbreak investigations and stronger disease prevention efforts across the pork industry.
