US confirms pseudorabies cases in Iowa, Texas swine herds

USA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed cases of pseudorabies virus in commercial swine herds in Iowa and Texas, marking a rare detection in domestic pigs since the disease was eliminated from U.S. commercial herds in 2004.

The confirmation, announced on April 30 by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), traced the Iowa case to a small herd of fewer than 100 hogs that had received five boars from a Texas herd months earlier.

According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the Texas herd was housed outdoors, increasing the likelihood of exposure to infected feral swine, which are known reservoirs of the virus in the United States.

Containment measures limit spread

The affected Iowa herd was depopulated as a precaution, with follow-up testing showing no transmission beyond the five infected animals.

“Based on the confirmation of the pseudorabies virus in a small commercial swine herd in Iowa, we are moving decisively to eliminate the disease,” said Mike Naig.

Officials said the detection appears isolated and contained, with no evidence of wider spread within the herd or to other operations.

Laboratory confirmation was carried out by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories using ELISA and latex agglutination tests, as part of routine surveillance rather than pre-movement checks.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation said it does not expect significant disruption to exports but is monitoring the situation for any short-term impacts on shipments of live swine or genetics.

Authorities emphasised that pseudorabies does not pose a risk to human health or the safety of pork products.

While the virus can infect multiple animal species, pigs are its only natural host.

Although vaccines exist, IDALS indicated that mandatory vaccination is not currently required, given the contained nature of the outbreak.

The incident highlights the continued risk posed by wild and feral swine populations, where the virus remains endemic despite its eradication from commercial herds more than two decades ago.

For producers, the case underscores the importance of biosecurity measures, particularly limiting contact between domestic pigs and wild animals, to prevent reintroduction of controlled diseases into commercial systems.

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