Deadly Pig Virus Hurting Local Farmers
HENRY COUNTY, Tenn.,- A deadly virus spreading in pigs across the United States has killed millions already, and expected to take even more lives by the end of the year. West Tennessee based, Tosh Farms, said since last April they have lost thousands of pigs in one of their farms due to Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea or PED. “I think overall we’ve lost 7,000 pigs just in our system alone,” veterinarian Dr. Seth Krantz said. PED showed up in the U.S. last April. Farmers estimate around 7 million pigs have died from the virus. That’s 10 percent of the total herd. Krantz told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News the virus has taken a toll on the farm financially, not only from lost profit, but medications and taking preventative steps to keep the virus away. “We wash all our equipment, vehicles, and use disinfectant,” Krantz said. PED thrives in cold weather. Researchers say millions more could die by the end of the year. “Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to prevent it but we’ve learned a lot in the last year,” Krantz said. Tosh Farms said pigs going to market now were raised last winter in the peak of the PED virus, which could potentially raise prices more. “Especially now going into the summer months,” Krantz explained. “We probably will see an increase in pork prices just because of how many pigs we’ve lost.” PED can not be spread to humans.
