The spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus in the
U.S. hog industry is costing it export markets.
Eleven countries have banned hogs from the U.S. and on
has banned pork, according to Dr. John Clifford, chief veterinarian for the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Speaking at the World Pork Expo at Des Moines, Iowa, this
week, Clifford revealed that El Salvador, Guatemala and South Africa have
banned imports of live U.S. hogs.
China, Japan, the European Union and Russia have
restricted hog imports, while four other countries have imposed unofficial
limitations, he said.
Uzbekistan has banned imports of U.S. pork, while Costa
Rica has banned imports of pork casings.
“This is beginning to have a much greater impact than
what any of us initially thought that it would,” Clifford said about PEDv at
the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.
