In spring 2024, H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), was diagnosed in Texas dairy herds. The cross-species outbreak spread in the dairy industry due to animal movements, reaching 16 additional states by December 2024. There were also 66 human cases of H5N1 diagnosed in 2024, beginning in Texas, and the swine industry took notice.
Industry-Wide Working Group Formed
Soon after the early H5N1 outbreaks in dairy, a working group among pork industry organizations was convened. Weekly conference calls among representatives of National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), National Pork Board (NPB), American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and the Meat Institute focused on outbreak updates, preparedness and response efforts.
These weekly calls continue more than a year later with the same commitment to preventing an H5N1 outbreak in swine, protecting pork producers and workers, preparing the industry response and learning how H5N1 may express itself in swine.
Taking a Proactive Approach
Their effort also includes monitoring how H5N1 affects both the avian and dairy industries. The working group is collaborating with representatives of the poultry and dairy industries to share information. “We are attending H5N1-focused meetings across the country to stay up to date and understand how the swine industry will need to respond in the event of an outbreak,” said Marisa Rotolo, DVM, PhD, director of swine health at NPB.
“The swine industry is very proactive,” Rotolo said. “We started working with influenza experts, producers, state pork organization executives, as well as federal and state animal health officials, immediately. We asked, ‘What will it look like if H5N1 is in the U.S. swine herd?’” She noted H5N1 is classified as a foreign animal disease (FAD) in poultry, which guides the working group’s planning and discovery processes.
Including a Public Health Perspective
The working group includes a public health perspective due to the potential zoonotic nature of H5N1. Of all the cases of H5N1 diagnosed in humans in 2024, only a handful were in people who did not have an occupational association with affected livestock or poultry.
Heather Fowler, DVM, MPH, PhD, director of producer and public health at NPB, is focused on promoting worker safety and points out affected workers can be a bridge to the wider community as well. “Our goal is to prevent a larger public health outbreak,” she said. “To do so, we have to focus on workers, working to keep them safe, healthy and free from disease.”
The extra layer of complexity addressing a zoonotic disease also enlarges the collaboration required for preparedness and response. Fowler said public health experts are talking with swine health experts, with collaborations spanning the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and state public health veterinarians.
A subgroup of the working group is thoughtfully addressing how to protect people. “This includes education on PPE use and other activities that protect workers and promote public health and safety,” Fowler said. “It’s important to not only include this information from an industry awareness perspective but also to engage with partners in public health around the country as well.”
Learning from Other Industries
From a swine health perspective, Rotolo explained the U.S. poultry industry has responded to H5N1 very much like the U.S. swine industry would respond to FADs like African swine fever, classical swine fever or foot-and-mouth disease. Knowing this, the swine organization representatives want to ensure the industry is prepared if H5N1 is detected in pigs.
“We’ve seen it jump from poultry to cattle, and the swine industry is being proactive by preparing for a potential detection in the U.S. swine herd,” Rotolo said.
Because H5N1 is classified as an FAD in poultry, how the swine industry responds to an outbreak is at the discretion of federal and state officials. NPPC has drafted a response plan that has been shared with USDA, which provides insights on the swine industry’s capabilities to respond to H5N1 detection.
Advancing H5N1 Research
Research in this space is ongoing as well. NPB partnered with SHIC and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research to issue a request for proposals on H5N1 research. Ten proposals were selected for funding for a total of $2.1 million. These projects will be underway by mid-2025. Existing research on H5N1 in swine suggests that the risk to the US commercial herd remains low, per Rotolo.
For now, NPB and the other swine industry organizations are focusing on a key component of biosecurity, eliminating interaction between pigs and anything that may carry H5N1. Now is the time to check bird netting and buildings for any potential access points for birds, rodents or pests.
“It’s uncomfortable to think about H5N1 getting into the swine herd,” Rotolo said. “However, it’s important to recognize the swine industry has dealt with and managed flu for years. We know this bug and how to manage it.”
At NPB, Rotolo says they are working to share tools with producers and veterinarians to prevent and respond, including Secure Pork Supply and AgView®, to maintain business continuity. “We have the tools to make sure pigs and people remain healthy,” Rotolo said.
Building a Foundation for Response
Collaboration across public and swine health perspectives, involving swine industry partners and working with state and federal officials continues to have positive results.
“This working group reinforces the importance of collaborating across different sectors when dealing with a potential zoonotic disease,” Fowler said. “We need all the chefs in the kitchen to review information and provide feedback, which is important for preparedness. If an incident results in the introduction of H5N1 into the swine herd, we have the groundwork established and will work with the appropriate partners to address it. By establishing these connections in planning, we don’t have to worry about establishing them during a response.”
