Samples from Vietnamese Pig Deaths Tested in US

August 22, 2007 — 

An expert team from the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recently visited Vietnam in response to reports of increasing pig deaths similar to what has been occurring in China.

The team sent diagnostic samples to the USDA's Plum Island Animal Disease Center for diagnostic testing and viral sequencing. Although testing is ongoing, preliminary results are negative for African swine fever, Classical swine fever and Food and Mouth Disease according to the team.

They reported the findings to the Vietnamese government on Tuesday and suggested that several swine diseases including PRRS may be responsible for the clinical signs observed. The team recommended an improvement in overall disease management.