Prevention
Disease prevention requires awareness of the diseases, how exposure happens,
steps to stop the spread of disease, and people who can help.
RSSBP provides tools to SUPPORT, IMPROVE, and DOCUMENT disease risk management.
Consider the Disease Exposure Pathways for Your Hatchery or Farm
ANIMALS – What are the disease risks for the species being cultured? Where are the animals being sourced (wild, local hatchery, imported) and what is the disease status at the source?
WATER – What are the known diseases in the source water at the facility or farm location?
FOMITES (inanimate objects like equipment and clothing) – How might farm gear movement from one source water area to another transfer disease? Or hatchery equipment and staff movement (gloves, aprons, etc) between treated and untreated water areas transfer disease?
VECTORS – are there living creatures, like birds or other wildlife that could spread pathogens to your farm via their body or feet or through droppings. What about human visitors?
Top Three Biosecurity Steps for the Hatchery and Farm
FOLLOW STATE REGULATIONS
on importations and transfers
Regulations protect cultured and wild populations from unwanted disease introductions and the spread of existing disease. The RSSBP provides tools to support regulatory decision-making regarding the risks.
GET ANIMALS TESTED
if they exhibit signs of illness or unexplained mortality
Mortality events are complex and can be caused by a number of factors that may not involve disease. Sending samples doesn’t count against operators, rather it demonstrates biosecurity measures are in place. Ruling out pathogens and disease is critical to mitigate product loss and disease spread.
ADOPT RSSBP BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Check out the Best Management Practice details under “Farm Biosecurity” and “Hatchery Biosecurity” below.