Rare pig disease shows up again

4-Hers taking their pigs to the county fair need to be aware of a disease called erysipelas. Deputy state veterinarian Dave Schmitt says it used to be more common when pigs were raised on the soil, which helps transmit the disease. Now, pigs are raised in nurseries and confinements with concrete floors. He says producers don’t see the disease and therefore don’t use the vaccine.Recently, three hogs at the Greene County Fair and one hog at the Dallas County Fair were found to have the bacterial disease. Dr. Schmitt says veterinarians at county fairs are keeping an eye out for hogs that are listless, have a high fever and blotchy skin, which are symptoms of the disease. The illness does not transmit to humans.