The University of North Carolina is urging workers in the hog-farming industry to be aware that a virus that originated in hogs in China could jump to people.
It’s acute diarrhea virus that is deadly to young pigs and is known as SADS-CoV.
The university learned in laboratory research that the virus can grow in human airway and intestinal cells, but they also learned that remdiservir is effective in treating it.
Remdiservir is one of the experimental drugs that United States President Donald Trump took after being infected with COVID-19.
SADS-CoV causes severe diarrhea and vomiting and has been especially deadly to young piglets, the university said.
“We recommend that both swine workers and the swine population be continually monitored for indications of SADS-CoV infections to prevent outbreaks and massive economic losses,” the university said.
