Should We Worry About Pseudorabies?
Written by:  Justine DePalma

The Detroit News article “Highly contagious swine virus found at Michigan ranch” raises troubling questions about Michigan’s canned hunting industry. Nineteen swine tested positive for pseudorabies according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture.  The swine lived at a game ranch in Saginaw County.  Game ranches usually provide hunters with guaranteed kills for a set fee.  The fear of Michigan’s agriculture industry is that pseudorabies will pass into cattle, pigs and other animals sold for human food.  If it does, quarantines are inevitable and other states will ban the import of Michigan agricultural products. 

What is Pseudorabies?

Pseudorabies is not a threat to humans nor is it related to the rabies virus. Pseudorabies is a highly infectious virus present in feral or wild swine. Feral swine are usually pigs that escaped from a game preserve or intentionally released by someone who intended to hunt.  Pseudorabies is a herpes virus shed through the nose and mouth at periodic intervals.  It causes weakness, stillbirth and abortions in domestic swine.  

Pseudorabies is Deadly to Many Mammals 

The true threat of Pseudorabies is to other mammals.  Wildlife, such as raccoons, opossums, fox, skunks and small rodents can contract pseudorabies from feral pigs.  If contracted, pseudorabies is fatal to farm animals, including cattle, sheep and goats.  Companion animals, especially dogs and cats if infected will die.  The symptoms are intense itching, followed by paralysis and then death.  There is no treatment or cure. Hunting and farm dogs are at risk for infection if pseudorabies infects the feral pig population in the area. 

Michigan Department of Agriculture Acts to Contain the Threat

According to a news release, the Michigan Department of Agriculture is taking swift action to contain the outbreak. “Effective immediately, MDA is banning the importation of swine intended for: breeding on game ranches, for supply to game ranches, or facilities using swine for sport, hunting, or shooting. Any farms that sold to, or received live swine from this facility will be quarantined and tested. Violations of the quarantine and ban are punishable by fines of up to $50,000 and/or up to five years imprisonment. Additionally, all farms and ranches with commercial or sport swine in a five-mile radius around the PRV positive ranch will be quarantined and the swine tested for PRV.” 

Michigan Protects the Right to Hunt Over All Else

The threat from feral swine to wild life and companion animals is well documented.  In addition to pseudorabies, feral swine also carry bovine tuberculosis, which is highly contagious to other mammals, including humans.  Which amendment to the constitution sets forth the right to hunt feral swine?  Why are canned hunters more important than the rest of us?  Doesn't it make more sense to ban canned hunt facilities or game preserves altogether?  Why should game preserves threaten our very lives? Let's work together to stop the threat presented by game preserves and canned hunting.

 Write to your Michigan Representatives and Senators and ask them to sponsor legislation to ban game hunting preserves as they are a threat to humans, companion and farm animals. 

 For more information about pseudorabies:
Ohio Department of Natural Resources