Iowa pseudorabies case ends 22-year run in commercial swine

USDA has confirmed the first known pseudorabies case in U.S. commercial swine since the disease was eradicated from the commercial industry in 2004. The April 30, 2026 confirmation involved a small commercial swine facility in Iowa, where routine testing detected antibodies in five boars traced back to an outdoor source herd in Texas. USDA said animals in the Texas herd also tested positive, and Iowa and Texas officials launched traceback, quarantine, depopulation, and surveillance measures. By mid-May, APHIS said all animals in the Iowa index herd and the non-commercial Texas source herd had been depopulated, no additional commercial sites with direct exposure had been identified, and first-round testing in Iowa’s five-mile surveillance zone found no further detections. (aphis.usda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a reminder that eradication in commercial swine doesn’t eliminate risk from feral swine reservoirs or outdoor production systems. APHIS says pseudorabies remains prevalent in feral swine, there’s no treatment, and affected herds must be depopulated, making surveillance, source-herd verification, movement controls, and strong biosecurity central to response planning. The case also has regulatory implications beyond herd health: USDA has updated export certification guidance and warned of limited, short-term impacts on exports of U.S. swine, swine genetics, and some animal products while quarantines remain in place. (aphis.usda.gov)

What to watch: A second round of testing for exposed herds and premises in Iowa’s two-mile surveillance zone is scheduled for June 12 to July 11, 2026, and restrictions will remain until those results are negative. (aphis.usda.gov)