Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says consumers should remain confident in the safety of pork products after Iowa confirmed a rare case of pseudorabies tied to pigs brought into the state from Texas.
Naig said the detection marked the first confirmed case in a commercial swine herd since the disease was officially eradicated from U.S. commercial production in 2004.
Naig explained that pseudorabies is not the same rabies virus commonly associated with pets or human exposure concerns. Instead, he compared it more closely to dormant viruses that can remain present within an animal population. He said the infected pigs were traced back to an outdoor operation in Texas, where contact with feral swine was possible.
According to Naig, the affected animals were housed at a small commercial facility in Iowa. He said officials acted quickly once the virus was identified, and testing showed the disease did not spread beyond the original animals, even within the facility itself.
The infected animals were depopulated, and the site was cleaned as part of the containment effort. Naig said surrounding farms are now undergoing follow-up testing under standard protocols used to reassure trading partners and confirm the virus has been eliminated.
Naig stressed there was never any threat to the food supply or to human health. He encouraged consumers to continue enjoying pork products heading into the summer grilling season, adding that proper preparation practices remain important, but there are no food safety concerns connected to this case.
State and federal animal health officials continue monitoring the situation, but Naig said Iowa’s response demonstrated how quickly the livestock industry and regulatory agencies can work together to contain potential disease outbreaks.
