OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — On Wednesday, March 20th, cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) were confirmed at the Oklahoma Youth Expo, held at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. 

PEDv is not a zoonotic disease, meaning there is no human health risk associated with this disease. Pork is safe for consumption, if prepared properly. Although there is no risk of transfer from an infected pig to humans or other species, it is highly contagious to other hogs. Piglets ages 8 weeks or younger are especially susceptible, with up to 100 percent mortality rates documented. PEDv has been an endemic disease in the United States since 2013.  

Monday, March 12:  

  • Gates to Oklahoma Youth Expo Open, Gilts allowed to move in after 5:00 p.m. 
  • Before swine were allowed to enter into the fairgrounds for the show, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry livestock inspectors checked Certificates of Veterinary Inspection for all livestock competing at the expo. 

Wednesday, March 13:  

  • 8:00 a.m. – Barns open for all breeding gilts 
  • 4:00 p.m. – Commercial breeding gilts required to be in place 

Wednesday, March 20: 

  • Mid-morning — Show officials contacted Dr. Hall, state veterinarian, of health concerns within the swine barn.  
  • ODAFF immediately sent a staff veterinarian to the fairgrounds to collect samples and conduct an investigation on the livestock showing signs of illness. 
  • Afternoon — Samples were promptly sent to Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on OSU’s Stillwater campus on extremely short notice for testing, where the staff worked diligently to create a rapid response to the PEDv presence. 

Thursday, March 21:  

  • 3:30 a.m. – OADDL staff confirmed the samples tested positive for PEDv. 
  • 8:00 a.m. — Statement from OK Pork Council and Dr. Rod Hall sent out to Oklahoma Veterinary Group, Extension educators, Agriculture teachers and OYE exhibitors. 

Show officials in conjunction with ODAFF officials chose to continue the swine portion of the show, as most of the animals had already been exposed and there was not an increased health risk. All biosecurity measures and information were shared at the show through multiple different outlets, including the show app and the website. In addition to information shared by the Oklahoma Pork Council to the public, the information was also distributed to all Oklahoma veterinarians, extension agents and agriculture education teachers.  

Dr. Rod Hall, state veterinarian, and his staff will be hosting biosecurity educational seminars in each quadrant of the state for 4-H and FFA exhibitors. We acknowledge the negative impacts of PEDv on 4-H and FFA exhibitors and plan to work diligently with them and the pork industry to contain and combat this outbreak.  

For additional information on PEDv and biosecurity measures, visit  the Pork Checkoff website at http://www.pork.org/pedv.  

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