PARIS (Reuters) — Mexico reported outbreaks of the deadly porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in 17 states out of 19 tested, the World Animal Health Organization said.
Following reports of unusually high mortality, mainly in piglets, in the central-western part of the country, Mexican veterinary officials tested 2,309 samples between August 2013 and May 2014 in farms and slaughterhouses, the Mexican agriculture ministry told the OIE.
These showed that 30 percent were positive for porcine epidemic diarrhea, suggesting that there may be some other causative agent involved in this event, the ministry said.
The OIE posted the report on its own website on Thursday.
Mexico has 31 states plus the federal district of Mexico.
PED has killed around seven million young pigs since it was first identified in the United States almost a year ago, sending pork prices rocketing.
Countries are obliged to report outbreaks of PED to the OIE.
