A model for the operations to render epidemic-free a hog farm infected by the Aujeszky disease

Abstract

We present here a case study for modelling the control of the Aujeszky disease, in a farm declared virus-free. The model is validated on the available data. Simulations are performed to assess different containment strategies for the epidemic. Final recommendations indicate that a strict reduction of biohazards in the farrowing unit should be enforced. Also neglecting the third inoculation in the vaccination protocol leads to a sensible and quantifiable increase of the prevalence of the disease. The findings indicate that it is more important to keep biosafety at a high level in the farrowing unit rather than strive for the highest standards in the gestation unit. Also the importance of a properly implemented vaccination appears fundamental, and its absence can be quantified via our simulations.

Keywords

• data analysis
• mathematical modelling
• simulations
• epidemics
• control measures
• 92d30