A new study says a devastating livestock disease could be transported to the United States through animals food and vitamins — but an Iowa expert says it hasn’t happened yet. The study, released in March, put 11 viruses into samples of several different ingredients. Then, the samples went through simulated temperature and humidity conditions for a trip across land and sea. Study lead author, Scott Dee of Pipestone Veterinary Services, found seven viruses lived. “There’s a growing body of evidence that… (it’s) pretty hard to refute the fact that this could be a significant risk factor for pathogen transport between countries,” Pipestone says.

Iowa State University’s Jim Roth wasn’t involved in the study. But he looks at foreign disease threats and says the most-feared virus, foot and mouth disease, is present in China but has not yet arrived here. So, the threat is real, he says, but may not be imminent. “We’ve been bringing in feed from China, the same feed ingredients, for many years. China has had FMD-food and mouth disease-all of those years and it hasn’t gotten here in the feed,” Roth says.

Pipestone says he’s now looking to find ways to safely prevent virus survival in imported feed.

(Radio Iowa)