Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 6/12/14


USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network reported that 142 tests for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) proved positive out of 749 conducted at seven veterinary diagnostic labs in the week ended May 31, according to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ latest update.

The latest data bring the number of confirmed cases to 7,111 since the virus was discovered in the United States in May 2013, but weekly case numbers have been on the decline.

The number of states reported to the NAHLN as having at least one confirmed case of PEDv remains at 30.
NAHLN also reported 14 positive tests for Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), a variant strain of the virus, out of 207 tests conducted, bringing the total positives for PDCoV since testing began to 242 in 14 states.  

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.

Livestock analyst Steve Meyer has estimated as many as 8 million pigs have died from PEDv.

The virus could push up U.S. hog prices by 15 percent to 25 percent and consumer prices for pork by 10 percent to 12 percent, Howard Hill, president of the National Pork Producers Council, recently told a congressional subcommittee.

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