Hog farmers across the Midwest are battling a new virus this summer.
The virus is often fatal in very young piglets and researchers are still trying to explain the outbreak.
Since mid-May when Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) was first identified in this country, it has spread quickly, turning up in at least 15 states. So far, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado have all had hogs test positive for the virus.
You can learn more about PEDV and the outbreak on the Harvest Public Media website.
Lisa Becton, a veterinarian with the National Pork Board, said the disease only affects swine, and pointed out sick pigs aren’t brought to processing plants.
She said that while PEDV does not transmit to humans, it spreads when pigs have contact with infected manure.
Becton says washing down trailers and other equipment and letting them dry before exposing them to a new group of pigs may help limit the spread of the disease.