Equine Infectious Anemia

Equine Viral Arteritis

National Animal Health Reporting System Provides Data for Confirmed Diseases

Feedlot Monitoring Data Show VS What is Happening in Animal Health

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza

West Nile Virus

Chronic Wasting Disease

Modernization of Ames

National Animal Identification System

Bovine Tuberculosis

BSE Surveillance

Foreign Animal Disease Investigations

Trichinea Certification Program

Pseudorabies

Assessing Brucellosis in the Tristate Area: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho

Bluetongue Survey

Confiscation of Belgian Sheep in Vermont

Scrapie Eradication Program

Johnes Program

National Veterinary Services Laboratories Domestic Detection and Surveillance Testing

Pseudorabies

Pseudorabies is a disease of swine that causes death in cattle, horses, dogs, cats, sheep, and goats. The disease is caused by pseudorabies virus, an extremely contagious herpesvirus that causes reproductive problems, including abortion, stillbirths, and even occasional death in baby, breeding, and finishing hogs.

USDA established a national eradication program for pseudorabies in the United States in 1989. This cooperative program relies on Federal, State, and industry participation. VS and State governments promulgate and enforce pseudorabies interstate and intrastate regulations. Producers contribute by testing their herds and instituting control and eradication measures. The program's primary activities include surveillance, herd monitoring, herd cleanup, and educational activities to improve swine farm biosecurity.

In December 1998, VS announced that it would accelerate its national pseudorabies eradication program. In the midst of record low prices for pork, this effort, called the Accelerated Pseudorabies Eradication Program (APEP), allowed USDA to pay hog farmers fair market value for the voluntary destruction of swine herds known to be infected with pseudorabies. At the beginning of FY 2002, 12 pseudorabies-quarantined premises were in the United States, 9 of which were in Iowa and 3 of which were in Nebraska. This compared to 434 pseudorabies-quarantined premises at the start of FY 2001. In January 2002, the last quarantine was released. This was an historic moment as it was the first time the United States had no known pseudorabies-infected domestic swine herds.

In July FY 2002, six newly infected herds were discovered: two in Iowa, one in Minnesota, and three in Pennsylvania. These herds were depopulated within days of discovery. There are currently no known pseudorabies-infected herds in the United States.

APEP has been beneficial, having provided necessary funds to continue the depopulation of infected herds with indemnity payments and to continue enhanced surveillance in high risk areas.

Slaughter surveillance also continues to play an important role in identifying newly infected herds. Thirty-six States now participate in major packer surveillance.

At the end of FY 2002, 40 States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands were in Stage V, the highest stage of disease-free status a State can have; 8 States were in Stage IV; 1 State in Stage III/IV; and 1 State in Stage II/III. One State, Pennsylvania, reverted from Stage V to Stage III/IV. APHIS expects to have 48 States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to be in Stage V by the end of FY 2003.

The United States is one of the world's largest producers of pork and is the second largest exporter of pork. U.S. pork production accounts for about 10 percent of the total world supply. The retail value of pork sold to consumers exceeds $30 billion annually. In addition, the pork industry supports more than 600,000 jobs.