Source: Bob Moser, MEATINGPLACE, 4/3/14

The National Animal Health Laboratory Network reported on Wednesday that 247 tests for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) proved positive out of 802 tested at 8 veterinary diagnostic labs in the week that began March 23, according to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

In addition, last week’s number was adjusted down to 270. The report noted this latest data maintains “the general downward trend in positive case submissions.”

There is no firm data on how many hogs have been infected, as each case reported can represent anywhere from a single animal to an entire herd at a single site. Industry estimates have ranged from 3 million to 5 million hogs affected.  

This latest report maintained the number of states reporting at least one confirmed case of PED unchanged at 27.  Media reports that the first case in Vermont was discovered could not be immediately confirmed.

Brazil industry nervous
Meanwhile, Brazil's pork industry has asked the country's Ministry of Agriculture to temporarily suspend imports of live pigs for breeding, as well as genetic material and plasma from swine in the United States, as a way to protect Brazil from PEDv, which has affected the U.S. herd since May 2013.

“We have ordered a temporary suspension (of imports) until all doubts are clarified,” said Rui Vargas, vice president of pork for the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), which represents the country's pork and poultry sectors. “It's a preventative measure to avoid (Brazil's) swine sector from being involved.”

Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture is still studying the request of the pork industry, according to its livestock defense division on Thursday. A meeting should be held next week in Cananeia, Sao Paulo state, where the ministry has a quarantine station, to decide if a U.S. ban is needed.

Another option may be to continue allowing imports from the United States, but hold them in a new warehouse in Cananeia for quarantined swine where they can be tested and later released. The Ministry will form a committee with state-owned Embrapa (Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research) to suggest biosecurity measures and prepare a contingency plan in case the disease arrives in Brazil.

Brazil has historically imported live swine, genetic material and swine blood plasma from the United States. The plasma is added to make certain animal feed more palatable to swine. Live swine imported to Brazil are already quarantined for 60 days upon arrival.

Brazil's pork industry has grown increasingly nervous over the potential harm of a PEDv epidemic following the virus' arrival in countries like Peru, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, far from the borders of the United States and its affected neighbor countries, Canada and Mexico.

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