March 18, 2014
Arizona confirms cases of PEDv
Increasing the tally of US states with confirmed cases to 27, Arizona is now the latest state to confirm cases of the deadly porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDv), a highly contagious pig disease, a group of animal health researchers said.
According to data released by the USDA''s National Animal Health Laboratory Network, Virginia has reported positive samples of the virus in the environment, but not yet in a hog herd.
In the week ending March 8, confirmed cases of PEDv increased by 274, bringing the total number to 4,458 in 27 states.
While one case can represent an individual animal or an entire herd at a single site, hog industry analysts estimate PEDv has killed between four to five million US hogs since it was discovered in May 2013.
PEDv, which does not affect humans and is not a food safety risk, causes diarrhoea, vomiting and severe dehydration in pigs. While older pigs have a chance of survival, 80-100% of piglets that contract it die.
"Anytime we have a disease that cuts numbers, it cuts Checkoff income," said John Parker, spokesman for the Virginia Pork Council, referring to The Pork Checkoff which funds research, including disease research, and programmes to promote the US pork industry. Pork producers invest US$0.40 for every US$100 of hogs sold to fund the Checkoff which is governed by the National Pork Board.
Senators from North Carolina and Michigan, two of the states with reported cases of PEDv, urged the USDA to approve disaster assistance for small pork producers affected by a deadly virus that has killed more than four million pigs across the US in the past year. North Carolina is the second biggest hog producer in the US, behind top state Iowa, which is also affected by the virus.
Due to PEDv which was first reported in May last year, pork processors are finding it more difficult to purchase hogs for slaughter and is starting to affect the pork supply and could eventually boost pork prices for consumers, industry sources said.