USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association
Contact - Larry Mark - (703) 451-3954 - ldmark@erols.com

For immediate release:

FERAL SWINE REMAIN SIGNIFICANT DISEASE THREAT

     MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 18, 2006 -- Four states -- Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin -- have initiated educational programs to make hog producers aware of the disease
risk of exposure to feral swine.  This information was presented to the U.S. Animal Health
Association (USAHA) Committee on Transmissible Diseases of Swine at its meeting here this
week.

     Current estimates of feral swine in the United States put the population at more than 2
million animals in about half of all states, with the distribution and density increasing rapidly
throughout many parts of the country.  In addition to the disease threat, damage caused by feral
swine can occur in many forms.  Some common examples are rooting and feeding on forest
regeneration sites, row crop and pasture lands and food plots or plantings for wildlife; damage to
ponds, tanks, springs and water holes; and damage to wild ecosystems and threats to biodiversity. 

     Two major concerns about feral swine shared by professional wildlife managers and
livestock officials as well as livestock producers are (1) that feral swine are known to be very
adaptable, have a high reproductive capability and, because of their feeding habits and behavior,
can significantly impact wild ecosystems; and (2) that feral swine are known disease carriers. 
USAHA is particularly concerned about swine brucellosis and pseudorabies, two serious swine
diseases that have been eliminated from domestic swine populations.

     In fiscal year 2006, there were 12 swine herds infected with pseudorabies and 13 herds
infected with swine brucellosis.  Six of these herds had dual infections.  Feral swine were
involved in all the cases.  

                              ###