Never Before Seen Piglet Virus Spreading Through U.S. Farms

A piglet virus that has never been seen before in North America has hit almost 200 farm sites in 13 states. Known as Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, or PEDV, it causes diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration in piglets. Older pigs can be affected, but their survival rates are higher. Iowa, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Indiana have the most reported cases, but there are cases in other states including Arkansas, Kansas, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The virus is almost identical to PEDV found in China in 2010 that killed more than 1 million piglets. The virus does not pose a risk to humans or other animals and the meat from PEDV-infected pigs is safe for human consumption. Read more (Reuters).