Fears of Deadly Pork Virus Shuts Down Piglet Show at New York State Fair

Fairs across the country are taking precautions to help prevent the spread of the vicious disease. In a recent press release acting New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball and State Veterinarian Dr. David Smith announced that the popular sow and piglet exhibition at the grandiose Great New York State Fair would be suspended for 2014.

In the release Dr. Smith points out that although some visitors may be disappointed by the move, it is in the best interest of the animals to take this precaution.

‘Fairs in general are a challenging environment in terms of animal disease control, and a lack of vaccine that’s been proven effective against PED makes the risk for piglets too high this year.’

“Fairs in general are a challenging environment in terms of animal disease control, and a lack of vaccine that’s been proven effective against PED makes the risk for piglets too high this year,” Dr. Smith said in the release.

PEDv, first reported in May of last year, has spread across the nation and is especially dangerous to young piglets. Reports suggest that the virus is 100 percent fatal in piglets less than 10 days old.

State fairs offer an unusually dangerous potential to further spread the virus because often animals from many different and normally isolated farms live amongst each other in close proximity for days at a time.

The Great New York State Fair’s Dave Bullard says that although the sow and piglet exhibition has been suspended, the swine barn will still be full with healthy (although not nearly as cute) adult male and female pigs, and fair-goers seem to be OK with that.

“The public’s response to the announcement has been positive as everyone understands our primary job is to be good stewards of the animals in our care,” he says.

While some may be let down by the lack of piglets at this year’s Great New York State Fair, other large exhibitions are allowing piglets in their swine showings — with certain restrictions.

The 2014 State Fair of West Virginia, in response to the virus, has recommended that all hogs (excluding purebred swine) must go directly to slaughter after the fair. This precaution eliminates the chance of a hog contracting the virus at the fair and then bringing it back to its farm of origin.

PEDv is not transferrable to humans and therefore it is safe to slaughter infected swine.

‘The public’s response to the announcement has been positive as everyone understands our primary job is to be good stewards of the animals in our care.’

However, not all fairs are taking the same approach. Minnesota State Fair Agriculture and Competition Deputy General Manager Mark Goodrich says they are not suspending any exhibits or forcing show pigs to slaughter, instead he says Minnesota’s focus is on education.

“The educational opportunities available at the fair outweigh the risks of spreading the disease,” he says. “I think we’re better off giving people the tools to help stop the spread of the virus, instead of just cancelling exhibitions.”

Goodrich says sows will still be on display at the Minnesota State Fair, as will piglets, but only in the isolated farrowing barn where piglets will be born on-site throughout the 12-day fair. However, farrowing sows will not be allowed to mingle with the other swine.

Whatever the approach, if you plan to attend any state fairs this year read up on how you can help prevent the spread of the virus and be prepared to encounter increased preventive measures and awareness around this deadly disease. Do it for the piglets, if no one else.