Cost of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is estimated to be about $100 millions Cdn per year. This represents $10 to $20 Cdn per pig produced in a PRRS positive system. Besides its impact on sow reproduction, pig mortality and treatment costs, PRRS has a direct impact on expression of diseases such as PCVAD (Porcine Circo Virus Associated Disease). This is why it is imperative to control this disease. In 2005, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) took a position that placed the AASV in the leadership role in a long term PRRS eradication project. Twenty-four members from Mexico, Canada and USA have been appointed to the North American PRRS Eradication Task Force (NAPETF). The main goals of the NAPETF are to define the needs concerning PRRS research as well as the educational and farm surveillance programs that must be put in place in order to control PRRS. The other action items coordinated by the NAPETF are the elaboration of a standard set of PRRS definitions and guidelines on good biosecurity practices, including transport vehicle management. PRRS eradication is the long-term goal, but the first step is PRRS stabilization of the herds. In order to stabilize a sow herd against PRRS, subpopulations of PRRS naïve animals must be eliminated and entry of PRRS viruses must be prevented. Semen must come from a PRRS negative boar stud, replacement gilts must come from a PRRS negative multiplication source, gilts must be acclimatized to PRRS virus before being introduced into a PRRS positive sow herd, and strict biosecurity measures must be respected. In general, when the sow herd has been stabilized to PRRS virus, then eradication can be an option. The different techniques of eradication are: depopulation / repopulation, herd closure and roll over, gilt acclimatization and roll over, as well as test and removal. After the sow herd has been stabilized to PRRSV and an eradication program has been completed, it is imperative that the health status be maintained. The maintenance of a PRRSV negative herd status depends on the biosecurity practices and the cooperative work. Biosecurity is pre-eminent to prevent reintroduction of the PRRS virus. The regular rules regarding biosecurity are to change boots, coveralls and wash your hands when entering a herd; materials to be introduced into the herd, must be free of feces and dust; it must be ideally double bagged and disinfected at entry. Control insect introduction through efficacious screens and insecticides.
PRRSV can travel 2.4 km through insects. Transport vehicles must be well washed, disinfected and dried (>8 h) between transport of PRRS positive and PRRS negative animals. Air filters are a new avenue in prevention of airborne transmission. This tool is now being used to protect boar studs all over the world. Long term PRRS control will rely on cooperative work between all the people from the industry; producers, veterinarians, transporters, researchers, etc. Each of us is sharing a role in PRRS control. To achieve these goals, sharing of information between veterinarians and producers is essential. PRRS status of the herds, PRRS virus sequence homology data and epidemiological studies are steps conducive to a better PRRS control. In conclusion, different PRRSV eradication techniques are available. However, before proceeding to eradication, herds must be PRRSV stable. Thorough follow up of the biosecurity measures will help to maintain the PRRSV negative status of the individual herds. Cooperative work is essential for long-term PRRS negative status of a whole region.