Six senators have signed a letter, asking for increased
funding to develop a vaccine for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus.
They say the virus has already claimed about six million
piglets in the United States since it first showed up a year ago.
“If PEDv continues to spread at its current
rate, many producers could struggle to remain in business,” the senators wrote.
They also drew attention to other new diseases,
such as swine delta corona virus, that are hitting hog farms.
The letter is signed by six Democratic Party senators
Kay Hagan from North Carolina, Sherrod Brown from Ohio, Al Franken from
Minnesota, Debbie Stabenow from Michigan, Joe Donnelly from Indianna and Amy
Klobuchar from Minnesota. The Democrats hold a majority in the Senate.