Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus found in Michiana farms

JONES, Mich. -- Several farms in Michiana have reported outbreaks of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus. The virus can be deadly to pigs, especially non-weaned piglets.



The virus was first found in England in the 1970s and was found in the United States in 2013.



"It's probably affected like 6 million pigs. We probably lost 6 million pigs nationwide to the virus," said Sam Hines, the Vice President of the Michigan Pork Producers Association.



Rolling Meadows Farm is one of the 93 farms in Michigan that been affected by this virus.



Farmer Andy White has lost about 2500 pigs already.



"I mean the prices have come up because of the shortage of pigs. Most of the pigs have been lost between December and March," said White.



White is being proactive to preserve his pig population.



"Another way that producers are trying to offset that loss is to raise their pigs to a heavier weight so you can still produce the pounds with the lower number of pigs," said White.



Researchers have yet to find a cure for the virus.



White says while losing the pigs has been tough. Losing the pigs, emotionally, has also been tough.



"It's in our nature as a hog farmer to care for that animal and I mean it's devastating to the business, to us emotionally, to the people that work in the barn," said White.



White is hoping for a vaccine.



"I hope that as an industry we will be able to come up with a vaccine for a virus," said White.



Click here for more information on the virus.