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“This is tremendous news for Iowa and our fourteen year battle to rid Iowa of the swine disease Pseudorabies,“ Secretary Judge stated.

This designation means that:

• Every swine herd in Iowa is now considered negative for Pseudorabies.
• Testing requirements will be relaxed, allowing for greater movement of swine into, out of, and within the state.
• Vaccination will no longer be mandatory but will still be highly recommended. Surveillance testing will continue throughout the state and is required to maintain this status.
• Pseudorabies is a disease of swine that is extremely contagious and causes reproductive and respiratory problems.

In 1989, Iowa had over 4,000 infected swine herds, the highest in the nation. Pseudorabies eradication efforts began in 1989 in Iowa’s known infected counties and grew into a statewide effort by 1993.

State Veterinarian John Schiltz stated, “We will remain vigilant and statewide surveillance must be continued for a period of one year, after which time the Department of Agriculture will apply for Stage V (5) Status, which would declare Iowa Pseudorabies free.“

Secretary Judge concluded, “I want to thank Iowa’s Pork Producers, our veterinarians, our Pseudorabies Advisory Board and the outstanding staff of the Ag. Department’s Animal Industry Bureau for their hard work and dedication. This fight is nearly over and we are looking forward to that time, a year from now hopefully, when we will be able to declare that Iowa is Pseudorabies free.“

Iowa leads the nation in pork production and the pork industry pumps over 3.1 billion dollars into Iowa’s economy each year.

Source: Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship - 15th April 2003