SHIC Applauds Iowa Response to Pseudorabies Detection

Industry Emphasizes Continued Vigilance Against Feral Swine

The Swine Health Information Center, along with US pork industry partners including the National Pork Producers Council, National Pork Board, and American Association of Swine Veterinarians, continues to monitor and communicate information regarding the recent detection of pseudorabies virus antibodies in small swine herds in Iowa and Texas.

Pseudorabies does not present a food safety concern and is not considered a risk to human health. This detection does not affect the safety of the commercial pork supply, which remains secure. Learn more about PRV through the SHIC fact sheet, including potential clinical signs in affected pigs such as reproductive failure in sows, neurologic problems in piglets, and respiratory disease in grow-finish pigs.

In a press release dated June 15, 2026, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced that the state had successfully completed the pseudorabies response protocol. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig stated that the response was completed in accordance with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service guidelines, allowing both Iowa and the US to retain their pseudorabies disease-free trade status.

According to USDA APHIS, the PRV detection involved a limited number of animals tied to a known risk factor—exposure to feral swine. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reported that the affected small commercial swine facility in Iowa had received swine from the affected Texas herd in recent months. The Texas herd was housed outdoors with potential contact with feral swine. Although pseudorabies was eliminated from US commercial swine herds in 2004, the virus remains present in feral swine populations, creating an ongoing risk for domestic pigs.

Federal and state animal health officials acted quickly to contain the situation through animal depopulation, surveillance activities, epidemiologic investigations, and implementation of response protocols designed to protect commercial swine herds and maintain disease-free status.

In a statement following completion of the response, the National Pork Producers Council said, “We appreciate the swift, coordinated response by USDA, state animal health officials, veterinarians, and producers to identify, contain and address the pseudorabies occurrence. Their efforts—and this situation—demonstrate the value of robust surveillance, proactive biosecurity and close collaboration in protecting US herd health.”

The successful resolution of this event reinforces the effectiveness of established disease response plans and surveillance systems. However, concern regarding feral swine and their ability to impact herd health remains high. The recent pseudorabies detection serves as an important reminder that feral swine continue to represent a significant disease transmission risk to domestic swine populations including outdoor or transitional herds.

Since PRV eradication was achieved in US commercial swine herds more than two decades ago, occasional detections have continued to occur in non-commercial or outdoor-raised swine due in part to the increased opportunity for contact with feral swine.

The Secure Pork Supply (SPS) program provides guidance to help producers reduce the risk of disease introduction from feral swine. Recommended biosecurity practices include:

• ▪️Installing and maintaining fencing around the farm perimeter to prevent contact between domestic and feral swine.
• ▪️Keeping doors, gates, and other access points closed and in good repair to prevent unwanted entry of feral swine.
• ▪️Promptly cleaning up grain and feed spills to avoid attracting wildlife.
• ▪️Requiring farm personnel to wear dedicated farm clothing and footwear when working inside the operation.

▪️Disposing of mortalities in a manner that prevents attracting wildlife and scavengers.

These practices are important components of a comprehensive farm biosecurity plan and can help reduce opportunities for disease transmission from feral swine and other wildlife reservoirs. Additional resources to enhance farm biosecurity and prevent herd exposure to feral swine can be found on the SPS biosecurity site found here. Other SPS resources include the Feral Swine Mitigation Plan checklist focused on biosecurity practices for outdoor-raised swine.

SHIC encourages producers to remain vigilant; review biosecurity plans regularly and utilize available industry resources to protect herd health. The recent response demonstrates the value of preparedness, coordinated communication, surveillance, and collaboration in safeguarding the US swine industry from emerging and re-emerging disease threats.

The Swine Health Information Center, launched in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, protects and enhances the health of the US swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Megan Niederwerder at [email protected] or Dr. Lisa Becton at [email protected].