The Swine Health Information Center-funded Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program (SOIP) web application, developed by Iowa State University and introduced in December 2023, now has new training videos and a written guide available for end-users. Developed to assist veterinarians and producers as they capture data from disease outbreak investigations in a secure industry database, SOIP provides a platform for consistent data collection, pinpointing risks for pathogen entry, and driving sustainable biosecurity improvements.
The new written training guide and training video resources are now available to support continued use, ease navigation, and broaden adoption of the web-based program. Videos can be viewed on the SHIC YouTube channel. The video resources contain two separate modules that include multiple short how-to episodes that guide users on how to access and fully utilize the various components of the SOIP, including farm or system start-up, data entry, creating farm maps, reviewing the investigation process, generating reports, and interpreting hazards.
SHIC Training Videos include:
Module 1
• Episode 1: The Organization of the SOIP
• Episode 2: How to Add a Company Representative in the SOIP
• Episode 3: Who Can Delete Sites, Users, and Companies in the SOIP
• Episode 4: How to Set Up Sites and Build Site Maps in the SOIP
• Episode 5: How to Delete or Edit Existing Sites in the SOIP
• Episode 6: Overview of the Pre-Investigation Survey Section of the SOIP
• Episode 7: Overview of the Questionnaire Section of the SOIP
• Episode 8: How to Edit an Existing Investigation in the SOIP
• Episode 9: How to Update Master Mapping Information in the SOIP
• Episode 10: How to Unlock a Locked Investigation in the SOIP
• Episode 11: How to Interpret a Detailed Report in the SOIP
• Episode 12: How to Interpret an Executive Summary in the SOIP
Module 2
• Episode 1: The Purpose of the SOIP
• Episode 2: Terminology Used in the SOIP
• Episode 3: The Process for Conducting an Outbreak Investigation – The Investigation Phase
• Episode 4: The Process for Conducting an Outbreak Investigation – The Investigation Form
• Episode 5: The Process for Conducting an Outbreak Investigation – The Post-Investigation Phase
Developers of SOIP and SHIC encourage the use of the app due to the following benefits:
• All outbreak investigation data and related information (diagnostic reports, animal movement information, etc.) are stored in a centralized database system for easy access and management.
• The platform allows multiple investigators/production/farm staff to access, share, and contribute to the investigation enhancing collaboration across teams.
• The system automatically generates site maps and incorporates daily local weather data during the investigation period.
• Users can generate custom forms allowing for targeted data collection to focus on pathogen entry events during the investigation period.
• The application helps users identify risks through built-in logic to flag responses that may indicate potential biosecurity hazards.
• Completed investigation forms can be automatically compiled into comprehensive reports.
• Facilitates collective learning from the experiences of veterinarians and producers by highlighting the most frequent biosecurity gaps identified across the US swine industry.
For use of the web-based application, veterinarians should contact the Iowa State University-based administrator for access, a one-time process, at [email protected].
The SOIP application can be used by veterinarians and producers to identify and prioritize biosecurity hazards, manage and prevent pathogen introduction, and prepare for seasonal challenges so that production systems can enhance biosecurity control measures accordingly. The development of resources that support continued utilization of the SOIP helps SHIC fulfill its mission to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd by supporting efforts to prevent, respond to and mitigate emerging, re-emerging, and transboundary swine diseases.
The Swine Health Information Center, launched in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, protects and enhances the health of the US swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Megan Niederwerder at [email protected] or Dr. Lisa Becton at [email protected].
