A disease which has killed more than seven million piglets in 27 states in America has been detected in European herds, leading to fears it could eventually reach Irish shores.

The porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDv) has been detected in approximately a dozen farms in Ukraine since the spring, but there are now reports of the virus in Italian and German herds. There have also been unconfirmed reports that there are many cases of the virus in Russia and at least one case in the Netherlands.

It is as yet unclear how this strain of virus made it this far. PEDv was first detected in European herds in the 1970s and thrives in colder weather.

This has led to fears that the disease could make it to Ireland.

Head of pig development with Teagasc Ciaran Carroll has urged farmers here to step up their bio-security protocols in the wake of the European outbreaks.

He said: “It’s a bit worrying that PEDv has come as close as it has. However, it should be seen as an opportunity for farmers to redouble their bio-security efforts.

“We are urging extreme vigilance on this. Farmers need to identify possible issues and deal with them. There are also many workers on pig farms who will be leaving Ireland for the Christmas period, so it is important that they follow the strict bio-security protocols.”

The strain of the PEDv which has reached Europe is understood to be the same strain that killed millions of piglets in the US.

America

Carroll said: “We’re told that the virus is what they had in America. In most farms the clinical picture is fairly mild, diarrhoea for about three weeks affecting all age groups, and low mortality. However, there are reports of some sow farms with high piglet mortality rates, greater than 60%.”

At the request of the IFA pig committee chairman Pat O’Flaherty, an emergency meeting of the National Pig Health Council has been convened for Tuesday 23 December to discuss the issue and decide on an action plan for Ireland.