The US Department of Agriculture designated $26.2 million in funding to combat porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV). USDA also issued a federal order requiring new cases of both viruses be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or state animal health officials.
The $26.2 million will be used for a variety of activities including:
• $3.9 million to be used by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to support the development of vaccines
• $2.4 million to cooperative agreement funding for States to support management and control activities
• $500,000 to herd veterinarians to help with development and monitoring of herd management plans and sample collection
• $11.1 million in cost-share funding for producers of infected herds to support biosecurity practices
• $2.4 million for diagnostic testing
• $1.5 million to National Animal Health Laboratory Network diagnostic laboratories for genomic sequencing for newly positive herds
"In the last year, industry has estimated PEDv has killed some 7 million piglets and caused tremendous hardship for many American pork producers," said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. "The number of market-ready hogs this summer could fall by more than 10 percent 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 percent in the past year."
Under USDA's federal order, producers, veterinarians and diagnostic laboratories must report all cases of PEDv and other new swine enteric coronavirus diseases to USDA and state animal health officials. USDA noted that herds previously infected by the virus have become re-infected. Routine reporting will help identify the extent of the disease in the United States.
Swine operations, in collaboration with USDA or state animal health officials, must also develop and implement a "reasonable" management plan to address the virus and prevent its spread.
