A hog virus known as porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has been found in the U.S. for the first time, with confirmed cases in Iowa and Indiana.
But according to Dr. Lisa Becton, veterinarian and director of swine health information and research with the National Pork Board, the scope of the outbreak has not yet been determined.
“It’s still very early to tell where exactly—what other states and how many,” Becton tells Brownfield. “We’re still waiting and monitoring the situation and working with USDA to continue the investigations and to see what’s going on.”
Becton says PEDV is similar to TGE, another disease affecting pigs. She says PEDV is a swine-only disease and poses no risk to other animals or humans.
“It is not a food safety issue,” Becton says. “Producers and the veterinarians have managed TGE-like diseases before—and so we’re just continuing to work with them to manage the situation.”
Becton says it should not have any impact on U.S. exports of pork.
“This disease has been identified as early as the 1970’s in England, China, South Korea and Japan,” she says. “There are currently no trade restrictions for those nations and we don’t foresee any for the U.S.”
Officials say there is no effective treatment for PEDV other than good care and the provision of adequate water to combat dehydration.
Becton reemphasized that the virus does not affect pork safety and pork remains completely safe to eat.
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