The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announced Wednesday that the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, or PEDv, has been detected at the state’s largest hog farm. The Salt Lake Tribune Reports that farm to be Circle Four Farms in Beaver County.
The disease, which is not a threat to humans but is highly contagious between hog farms, was first detected in 2013 and is suspected to have been imported from Asia.
The virus causes cold-like symptoms in adult pigs but can be deadly for piglets. Because of the high mortality rate, pork prices have been climbing since the spring.
Since its detection, two vaccines have been developed to fight the virus. Acting State Veterinarian Dr. Warren Hess says the research on the vaccines hasn’t been released, but they seem to be working.
“It’s being used as a tool to manage the disease on infected farms, and I think most veterinarians would not necessarily be recommending that for swine that haven’t had the disease on their facility yet,” Hess said.
Use of the vaccine may become more standard in the future.
“This disease is not going to go away, it’s here to stay and eventually the swine industry is going to look for ways to increase the immunity that their pigs have to this virus,” he said.
The virus is most commonly seen at large-scale farms, but producers and experts in the field still aren’t sure how PEDv is getting there. Some suspect contaminated food imported from Asia is to blame, while others suggest something as simple as a farmer with contaminated shoes is tracking in the deadly virus.
