No Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosed in Minnesota and Iowa Pigs

July 3, 2007 — 

The USDA conducted a foreign animal disease investigation in a group of pigs located in a Minnesota processing plant and an Iowa livestock facility during the last week of June. Samples were collected and transported Priority 1 to Plum Island Animal Disease Center for analysis. Laboratory diagnostics found no foreign animal disease present in the samples submitted. Below is the official statement from Dr. Ron DeHaven, APHIS Administrator.

"The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducted an investigation after a shipment of swine from Canada showed signs of illness. Preliminary test results, the last of which were received this morning, are negative for foreign animal diseases of concern. Based on information currently available, USDA animal health experts believe the illness is likely caused by viruses already known to exist in the United States, enterovirus or circovirus, which are not foreign animal diseases. The swine tested positive for both these viruses, neither of which poses a threat to human health.

"The symptoms were first identified when the animals underwent inspection at a Minnesota slaughter plant. [Ed. Note: Hormel's Austin facility] A USDA veterinarian, who conducted the inspection, immediately placed the 185 animals from the affected shipment on hold. Foreign animal disease diagnosticians examined the animals and submitted samples for testing. Another truckload of approximately 169 swine were collocated with the sick swine in a holding area at the Minnesota facility. These animals showed no signs of illness, but were placed on hold out of an abundance of caution when they arrived at a pig-sorting facility in Iowa.

"Enterovirus and circovirus pose no threat to human health or food safety. Therefore, the USDA hold has been lifted for all animals associated with this investigation.

"On average, APHIS conducts 400 to 500 foreign animal disease investigations each year. Typically, we do not report negative test results. Because this investigation generated public interest, we felt it was important to provide accurate information regarding our findings."

[Ed. Note: Further information regarding this case indicates that the hogs in question had vesicles on their snouts and coronary bands. Some of the animals were lame with quite severe lesions around the coronary band. There is no evidence of similar symptoms at the source farm in Canada as of this report. Likewise, evidence of vesicle formation was not noted during the border crossing inspection either.]