PRV in Michigan ? Update

May 14, 2008 — 

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) offered the following update on the recent confirmation of pseudorabies (PRV) on a game ranch in Saginaw County.

PRV has been confirmed in swine located on a game ranch in Saginaw County. The virus was detected as a result of laboratory testing, no clinical signs have been observed. Investigators traced the disease to two additional PRV positive facilities in Gladwin County. All three facilities fall under the USDA definition of transitional swine operations. To date, no commercial facilities are known to have been exposed to PRV as a result of this infection. PRV positive herds will be depopulated and disinfected.

Feral swine located in the vicinity of the game ranch have also been confirmed positive for PRV. The MDA has instituted circle testing of swine within a 5 mile radius of the positive herds in Saginaw and Gladwin Counties. The MDA encourages Michigan residents to shoot feral swine and to have MDA test the carcass for disease.

Michigan's PRV-free status for the commercial swine industry should remain intact as long as commercial operations remain PRV-free. The MDA will re-establish the swine PRV Advisory Board in partnership with the Michigan Pork Producers Association (MMPA).