On May 16, 2013, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus was discovered in North America for the first time by researchers in Ames, Iowa. The virus is similar to transmissible gastroenteritis and is differentiated only by laboratory examination.
Efforts are currently underway to determine the source of the virus and the extent of its spread. Those efforts are largely spearheaded by a $450,000 injection of checkoff funds into research of the issue by the National Pork Board. USDA is also conducting an epidemiological study with veterinarians in each of the 8 affected states to determine the source of the virus.
Taking into account the importance of biosecurity in pork production, Director of Swine Health Information with the National Pork Board, Dr. Lisa Becton, says the source of the virus is still baffling.
We have a lot of farm that are not related all across the Midwest – especially, it started within Iowa. So we’re thinking: ‘Is there one particular way or mechanism that this disease got into the farm. And really what we’re trying to do to address that is look at this epidemiological survey, because it did happen in a very short amount of time, and it did spread across a wide range of area. But until we get that information back to try to help us identify what that might be, it’s very hard to speculate at this point in time
Adding to confusion is the fact that the virus, as it appears in separate geographical locations, has not mutated in any way. Normally a virus spreading would change along the way, but indications point to a single source of contamination.
PED is particularly deadly in baby pigs. For pigs less than a week old, the virus has a 100% mortality rate. That figure tapers to 90% for pigs older than a week but still under 21 days.
