Deadly Pig Virus Re-Infects Indiana Farm

In a blow to efforts to stop a deadly virus that has wiped out 10 percent of the U.S. hog population, an Indiana farm has confirmed being re-infected with PEDv.

PEDv, or Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, has killed 7 million pigs and driven pork prices to record highs since first being found in the United States a year ago.  The disease is almost always fatal to baby piglets.

Matt Ackerman, a veterinarian in southeastern Indiana confirmed the re-infection but declined to name the farm.  The confirmation is a blow to containment efforts because federal and state officials had been working from the assumption when a pig was infected it would develop an immunity for a number of years.

Rumors had been spreading that the assumption was faulty and up to 30 percent of farms were seeing second outbreaks but the Indiana case is the first one officially confirmed by government officials.  The virus was also confirmed to be the same exact strain of the virus as the previous infection.

The virus is known to spread through pig manure and can transmit from farm to farm on trucks.  Veterinarians are now examining if the virus can spread through animal feed.

The outbreak is likely to cause even more reduction in the U.S. hog population and further drive up pork prices.

Deadly Pig Virus Hits 20th U.S. State

A deadly pig virus has been discovered in Nebraska, making it the 20th state to be hit by Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea.

The disease had not been seen in North America until May when it was first discovered in the U.S. The disease has a high mortality rate among young piglets, with a 50 percent death rate on a farm infected with the virus common. However, USDA officials said in some cases the virus killed all the piglets on a farm.

Older pigs can be impacted by the disease but have a much lower mortality rate.

The National Pork Board has issued biosecurity guidelines to pork producers in an attempt to stop the epidemic. The spread of the virus is believed to be connected in some way with the trucking industry as most pigs are transferred via truck.

The deaths of piglets is leading market experts to see a steep decline in hog supplies through summer 2014.