International PRRS Update

August 8, 2007 — 

Outbreaks of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) have been reported on eight Swedish pig farms, according to veterinary officials at the National Board of Agriculture. The virus has also been very active in Vietnam and China recently.

Approximately 20,722 pigs have been destroyed in Sweden since the first outbreak of this serious disease was reported in early June.

Veterinary authorities are unaware of how the farm became contaminated, and say that the pigs did not show any signs or symptoms of contamination.

Later, inspectors discovered another outbreak, approximately 100 km from the first contaminated farm. "We don't understand where the contamination is coming from and hopefully our investigation will tell," said Peter Wallgren at the Swedish National Veterinary Institute.

Swedish veterinary authorities are worried that PRRS has spread to more farms in Sweden. "If all the herds that we are testing prove positive for PRRS, the virus has already spread across Sweden," said Wallgren. Test results are expected later this week.

PRRS is also implicated in pig deaths in Vietnam. The disease has affected at least eight districts in Quang Nam killing up to 4,000 pigs per day. One report identifies the Lelystad strain of the virus as the culprit. The Vietnamese Health Ministry's Animal Health Department is distributing thousands of doses of "Blue Ear Disease" vaccine.

This, of course follows the outbreak of severe disease throughout much of China over the last 18 months to 2 years resulting in the death of thousands of pigs. Although this mortality has been attributed to an exceptionally virulent strain of PRRS, some experts speculate that other disease agents may also be involved including Classical swine fever or even African swine fever.

Dr. Steven McOrist has provided AASV with some pictures he took of affected pigs during a recent visit. We have posted the photos on the AASV Image Library in the members-only section of the website.

Source:
PigProgress.net July 12, 2007
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