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WATERLOO | A killer swine virus that broke out sometime last spring in Iowa is sending a winter chill through hog markets across the U.S., according to agriculture experts.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea reportedly had cut into the U.S. hog herd by 1 percent between September and December. PED, caused by a porcine coronavirus, results in vomiting and occasionally diarrhea in sows and gilts and severe diarrhea and vomiting in nursing and recently weaned pigs.

It is fatal to the youngest animals, agriculture leaders say.

It would be very devastating on a herd, said Bill Northey, Iowa secretary of agriculture.

It also can leave its mark on hog markets.

It is an impact and, of course, it impacts the market, Northey said. Its big enough that people think it could cut the supply enough that it could have some market impact, too.

The outbreaks effect has been dramatic, said Cody McKinley, public policy director at the Des Moines-based Iowa Pork Producers Association.

People moving in and out of operations spread the oral-fecal disease with contaminated boots or trucks that havent been properly sanitized, McKinley said.

Essentially, were having real concerns as trucks are moving around the state, as producers are going in and out of their buildings, he said. We have to take a second look at what theyre doing and how theyre doing it. You can pick it up as easy as going to the local Caseys and picking up a pizza.

It doesnt take much to spread the disease, McKinley said, noting that Dr. Rodney Butch Baker, senior clinician for swine biosecurity at Iowa State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, said a thimbleful of PED can affect the entire U.S. herd.

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Pork producers fight their way through PED virus outbreak