Pseudorabies is a disease of swine that can also affect cattle, horses, dogs, cats, sheep, and goats, but not humans. The disease is caused by pseudorabies virus, an extremely contagious herpesvirus that causes reproductive problems, including abortion, stillbirths, and even occasional death losses in breeding and finishing hogs. USDA established a voluntary eradication program for pseudorabies in the United States in 1989. The program is cooperative in nature and involves Federal, State, and industry participation. USDA's veterinary services program and state governments promulgate and enforce the intrastate regulations.
Producers contribute by testing their herds and instituting control and eradication measures.
The program's primary activities include surveillance, herd monitoring, and herd cleanup. APEP started in the midst of record low prices for pork. Secretary Glickman announced that new regulations would allow USDA to pay hog farmers fair market value for the voluntary destruction of swine herds known to be infected with pseudorabies.