Maryland Producers Must Now Report Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) to MDA

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Because of the growing impact that the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) is having on swine herds across the nation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made PEDv a reportable disease – meaning any farmer or veterinarian who has a pig with PEDv must now report it to their state agriculture department in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease. PEDv only infects pigs, poses no known public health threat and is not a food safety concern.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) confirmed one case of PEDv last October at a small farm in Southern Maryland. At that time, MDA alerted swine producers across the state to take proper precautions to protect their herds. MDA has also been distributing a fact sheet to swine producers telling them what to look for and how to increase their biosecurity measures.

MDA does not know of any active cases of PEDv in Maryland at this time. Producers have not been required to report any incidents of PEDv to MDA if they discovered it, but now they must.

PEDv is a highly contagious disease among pigs and is often fatal in suckling and early weaned pigs, with mortality rates as high as 100 percent. Older animals experience a setback in growth rate of about 3-7 days but generally recover. The virus was first diagnosed in Europe in 1971 but was not confirmed in the United State until last May. Primary clinical signs of the disease are: severe diarrhea in pigs of all ages, vomiting and high morbidity and mortality. It is generally spread among pigs and by infected feces transported into pig areas by trucks, boots, clothing, and the like. Once infected, the incubation period is very short (12-24 hours) and the virus is shed for 7-10 days. Producers who suspect their pigs are sick should contact their veterinarian immediately.

The swine industry is a small segment of Maryland’s agricultural sector. Maryland had about 23,000 pigs in 2012 with cash receipts of $8.8 million, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistic Service; however, raising pigs is popular among 4H Clubs and showing them is a big draw at county fairs and livestock exhibition shows across the state. Because of the PEDv virus, the procedures and regulations for showing pigs at upcoming events have been upgraded to emphasis stricter biosecurity measures for all exhibitors to minimize risks. Read more about these new procedures here.

A question-and-answer sheet about USDA reporting requirement is available here.  

A summary of USDA actions to date is available here.

More information and fact sheets on PED from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians are available here.

Producers and veterinarians who have questions, concerns or need to report a case of PEDv should contact MDA’s Animal Health Program at: 410-841- 5810.

# # #