REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig confirmed this week that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) successfully completed the pseudorabies virus (PRV) response protocol with a second round of testing to confirm the virus did not spread.

On April 30, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed positive cases of PRV in a small commercial swine facility in Iowa, which traced to animals received from a herd in Texas. This was the first detection in commercial swine since its eradication in 2004. Both the Iowa and Texas operations were depopulated of all hogs, according to disease protocol.

"Thanks to a strong, coordinated effort, this situation has been resolved, and we were able to successfully contain and eradicate the pseudorabies virus from Iowa," Naig said. "I appreciate the support of our partners who were instrumental in helping us mount a swift and effective response, and to the affected producers and local veterinarians for fully cooperating and completing testing in a timely manner.

"This situation is a great reminder that we must always be prepared to respond to animal health threats and can never get complacent in our efforts to keep these diseases out of our herds."

The 2-mile quarantine, which was kept in place until the second round of testing was complete, included 10 swine production facilities. The affected farms all tested negative, and the quarantine has been lifted. According to IDALS, producers within the control area can now resume routine animal movements.

Officials with the U.S. Meat Export Federation are meeting with USDA officials to discuss trade barriers that were put in place due to this detection. Mexico shut off trade on offal and other variety meat products, but no muscle cuts were affected.

PRV does not pose a threat to food safety. IDALS completed the eradication process according to USDA program standards, which allows Iowa and the U.S. to retain its pseudorabies disease-free trade status.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

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