USDA to fund US$26.2 million in fight against swine diseases

June 6, 2014

The USDA has announced a US$26.2 million funding to combat the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) threats which have affected US pork producers.

Additionally, the USDA issued a Federal Order requiring the reporting of new detections of these viruses to its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or State animal health officials.

These viruses do not pose any risk to human health or food safety, and they are commonly detected in countries around the world.

"In the last year, industry has estimated PEDv has killed some seven million piglets and caused tremendous hardship for many American pork producers," said Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack.

"The number of market-ready hogs this summer could fall by more than 10% relative to 2013 because of PEDv. Together with industry and our State partners, the steps we will take through the Federal Order will strengthen the response to PEDv and these other viruses and help us lessen the impact to producers, which ultimately benefit the consumers who have seen store pork prices rise by almost 10% in the past year."

The $26.2 million will be used for a variety of activities to support producers and combat these diseases, including US$3.9 million to be used by USDA''s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to support the development of vaccines; US$2.4 million to cooperative agreement funding for States to support management and control activities; US$500,000 to herd veterinarians to help with development and monitoring of herd management plans and sample collection; US$11.1 million in cost-share funding for producers of infected herds to support biosecurity practices; US$2.4 million for diagnostic testing; and US$1.5 million to National Animal Health Laboratory Network diagnostic laboratories for genomic sequencing for newly positive herds

APHIS'' Federal Order requires producers, veterinarians, and diagnostic laboratories to report all cases of PEDv and other new swine enteric coronavirus diseases to USDA and State animal health officials.

The industry is already seeing herds previously impacted by the virus become re-infected, and routine and standard disease reporting will help identify the magnitude of the disease in the US and can help determine whether additional actions are needed.

The Federal Order also requires that operations reporting these viruses work with their veterinarian, USDA or State animal health officials to develop and implement a reasonable management plan to address the detected virus and prevent its spread.

Plans will be based on industry-recommended best practices, and include disease monitoring through testing and biosecurity measures.