June 9, 2008

LANSING - In a special meeting today, the Michigan Agriculture Commission encouraged the quick depopulation of swine on four Pseudorabies Virus (PRV) positive transitional swine facilities, requesting Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto to utilize both federal and state resources to implement their recommendations.

PRV and feral swine both pose a significant threat to Michigan’s pork industry, which contributes approximately $500 million to the state's economy.

PRV is transmitted across fence lines, through nasal and oral secretions, food, water, and the environment. PRV does not affect humans, but spreads quickly through the environment and can kill pigs.

The Commission also reaffirmed an earlier commitment to eliminate feral swine running at large in Michigan. Five feral swine taken from Saginaw County were confirmed PRV positive in May. Feral swine in other states have been known to transmit PRV to transitional swine - those raised on pasture, game ranches, backyard swine, and 4-H swine.

Additionally, the Commission moved to support MDA’s efforts to identify Michigan premises with swine. Since PRV was eradicated from commercial swine in 2000, Michigan has not required premises identification.

“When it comes to disease, we must swiftly identify and contact swine owners to inform them of the precautions to take,” said State Veterinarian Steven Halstead. “The Commission's actions today not only protect the commercial swine industry and pasture raised swine, but 4-H families and game ranches as well. Everyone needs to know how PRV spreads and the regulations associated with the disease.”

The Commission moved to revitalize the PRV Advisory and Swine Technical Committees and charged the Technical Committee to develop a strictprotocol and aggressive standards for repopulation of PRV positive premises.