COVID-19 sets an example for how to respond to a disease outbreak. National Pork Board Senior VP of Science and Technology, Dr. David Pyburn says that he is taking notes on the human response to see what planning can be done on the animal side before an outbreak ever occurs.
“When you look at the COVID-19 diagnostic testing in humans, and sampling methods and some of the confusion that has gone on in that area, and their validation that they try to do on the fly during the COVID-19 response, that’s shown us that we better have all of our diagnostic testing validates and our sampling methods validated prior to any kind of crisis or outbreak,” he said.
He goes on to say that the animal sector needs to have effective vaccines tested and stockpiled before any disease breaks out.