DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has successfully completed the Pseudorabies (PRV) response protocol established by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). The completion of the response confirms that the virus did not spread beyond the originally identified case and that Iowa remains free of the disease.
The announcement follows the detection of Pseudorabies virus in a small commercial swine facility on April 30, 2026. Since that time, state and federal animal health officials have worked closely with affected pork producers, veterinarians, and industry partners to contain the situation and complete the required testing and eradication procedures.
According to Secretary Naig, a second round of testing was conducted on farms that remained under quarantine following the initial detection. All test results were negative, confirming there were no additional cases of Pseudorabies. As a result, all quarantined swine farms have been released, and producers within the designated control area may now resume normal animal movements.
“Thanks to a strong, coordinated effort, this situation has been resolved, and we were able to successfully contain and eradicate the Pseudorabies virus from Iowa,” Naig said. “I appreciate the support of our partners who were instrumental in helping us mount a swift and effective response, and to the affected producers and local veterinarians for fully cooperating and completing testing in a timely manner.”
Naig also emphasized the importance of continued vigilance against animal disease threats. He noted that the successful response serves as a reminder that the pork industry must remain prepared to respond quickly to animal health challenges and continue protecting herd health across the state.
Less than 10 swine production facilities remained under quarantine during the response effort. With all testing now complete and no additional infections detected, IDALS has fulfilled the USDA program standards required for disease eradication. This allows both Iowa and the United States to maintain their valuable Pseudorabies disease-free trade status.
Pseudorabies does not pose a risk to human health or food safety. Pork products remain safe to eat when properly prepared. Animal health officials continue to encourage strong biosecurity practices and disease monitoring efforts to help protect Iowa’s swine industry and maintain the health of the nation’s pork herd.
The successful completion of the response protocol highlights the importance of rapid disease detection, coordinated emergency response efforts, and strong partnerships between pork producers, veterinarians, state officials, and federal animal health agencies in safeguarding the U.S. pork industry.