Industry News - PM

USDA investigation links PEDV to shipping containers


By Tom Johnston on 10/1/2015

A USDA investigation has concluded the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) most likely entered the United States through shipping container sacks commonly used to transport bulk animal feed.

The sacks, known as tote bags, were frequently reused prior to the 2013 epidemic and unlikely to have been disinfected in a way that would have eliminated viruses, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said in a report.

The agency examined several possible scenarios for how the virus entered the United States, including via pet treats or organic soybeans, but concluded the shipping sacks were the most likely culprit.

“The results of the APHIS investigation indicate that the use of Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (aka: FIBC or “tote bags”) best fit the criteria established for entry in to the United States, rapid and wide spread across the country, and introduction onto individual farms,” APHIS said in its report.

While the investigation did not uncover incontrovertible proof for how PEDV entered the country, shipping sacks would explain the association of the 2013 epidemic to feed, APHIS said.

Feed was implicated in several of the first outbreaks, and a case control study found a strong relationship between feed and infection, according to the report.

If the tote bags are the cause, not reusing them, or better sanitary management, could be an effective intervention to prevent future outbreaks, APHIS said.


 
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