The deadly Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) has spread quickly across the U.S. since first being discovered in the country less than a year ago in April 2013. According to veterinarians at Iowa State University, the virus likes cold, wet, cloudy conditions and the recent freeze followed by warmer conditions could cause it to spread. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) California and Wyoming are the two latest states to report confirmed cases bringing the total number of states affected to 22. Scientists at Iowa State University have found that the virus can survive for up to a couple of freeze/thaw cycles but that heat and sun will kill or deactivate it, finding that temperatures between 155 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit can deactivate it. Attention has been drawn to the trucking and transport industry as trailers are suspected of being a means of transmission. Trucks need to be washed, disinfected and heated to kill the virus, but because it can take two hours and cost up to $500, the process is not being done completely or properly. There is no official count of pigs lost to the virus but analysts in the U.S. hog industry estimate that between one and four million pigs have died.
To receive relevant news stories with summaries provided by GAI Research & Insight, subscribe to Global AgDevelopments, our free bi-weekly enhanced eNews service