Pig virus, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, reported in 22 states
The number of cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) has eclipsed 2,000 and has spread to 22 states, according to a recent Reuters report.
US Department of Agriculture officials fear it could get worse as frigid temperatures sweep the country. “The virus likes cold, wet and cloudy days,” said Rodney Baker, a swine veterinarian at Iowa State University at Ames, Iowa, the top pork producing state in the United States.
The virus, first discovered in the United States in April 2013, is threatening the US pork market.
The extent of the impact is unclear because farms don’t have to report incidents or death totals to federal regulators. Smithfield Foods Inc., the world’s largest pork producer, and other meatpackers estimate that about 10% of the nation’s sows, or adult female hogs, have been infected by the virus, which can spread to their offspring, according to a Market Watch report.
Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus is a disease occurring only in pigs, caused by a coronavirus that does exactly what the disease name implies: produces acute and severe outbreaks of diarrhea that rapidly transmits among all ages of pigs (epidemic).
Huge numbers of virus particles are shed in feces. One thimble-full of feces could contain enough virus to infect all the pigs in the United States. The PED virus is being detected in samples collected from pig collection points, slaughter facilities, transportation vehicles and innumerable fomites illustrating the vast potential for transmission.
The USDA is working with veterinary diagnostic laboratories, veterinarians, swine producers, and State animal health officials and related swine industries to monitor this disease.
The agency says it is working to determine, to the extent possible, how long the virus has been here, the first location of the virus, and where the virus came from.
For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page and the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show page.
Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available
[…] United States as of 2013, but people who follow infectious diseases in swine had it on the radar.Pig virus, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, reported in 22 statesThe Global Dispatchall 2 news […]
[…] Pig virus, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, repor…The Global DispatchThe number of cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) has eclipsed 2,000 and has spread to 22 states, according to a recent Reuters report. cute baby pig with mama pig Photo by Keith Weller US Department of Agriculture officials fear it could … […]