PED Virus Increasing Pork Prices

In May 2013, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) was isolated in hog herds in the United States. PEDv cause diarrhea and vomiting in pigs (morbidity near 100%) with variable mortality. Older pigs are more likely to survive the virus than young pigs (mortality 50-100%). The virus has an incubation period of 3-4 days, and is spread more slowly than other types of swine gastroenteritis. Pigs who recover do so within 7-10 days of symptom onset. The virus is spread through a fecal-oral route, but fomites and contaminated equipment may spread the virus as well.

PEDv was first reported in the United Kingdom in 1971, and has spread to several countries since then.
PEDv is a Coronavirus, containing an enveloped ssRNA genome. The virus does not appear to have jumped to humans in the 40 years since its discovery.

Global AgriTrends speculates that up to 4.5% of pigs, or 4.5 million hogs, in the US may be killed by PEDv this year. Some farms have lost 10% of their herds already. Pork prices are expected to increase 3% this year, compared to 0.9% last year. A vaccine is not yet available for the virus in the US, but there are vaccines currently available in South Korea, Japan, and China.