PRRS Detections on the Rise

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is no longer just a seasonal issue for pork producers. The number of PRRS cases continues to increase at an alarming rate. “PRRS has definitely been increasing, which is going really against the expectations of what we see coming into the summer and warmer months, but our recent June Swine Disease Reporting System showed the increase in cases, especially in growing pigs,” said Dr. Lisa Becton, associate director, Swine Health Information Center. “The PRRS virus strain that they’re monitoring is the L1C.5. This one seems to be a predominant variant of PRRS that’s identified, and it does lead to reduced production, increased mortality, and just not great growing pigs. It’s a concern not just for growing pigs but also for our sow units.” For that variant, the number of detections in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa and Indiana doubled in a single month. In an interview with RRFN, Becton also provides a swine industry perspective on H5N1 and New World Screwworm.