Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus confirmed in Arizona, millions of piglets lost nationally
The deadly pig virus, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) continues its spread across the United States and Canada as Arizona becomes the 27th state to confirm the devastating disease, according to a recent Reuters report.
Image/Scott Bauer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
The number of confirmed case increased by 274, bringing the total number of PEDv cases to 4,458 in 27 states as of Mar. 8.
The outbreak, which has resulted in an estimated loss of more than 5 million piglets in the past several months, has prompted the pork industry to invest over $1 million for research in the fight against the further spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus.
“This has become one of the most serious and devastating diseases our pig farmers have faced in decades,” said Karen Richter, a Minnesota producer and president of the National Pork Board. “While it has absolutely no impact on food safety, it has clear implications for the pork industry in terms of supplying pork to consumers. Our No. 1 priority is to address PEDV.”
In addition, Virginia has reported positive samples of the virus in the environment, the Reuters report notes.
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.
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