Pork is consumed more than any other meat worldwide, and there are numerous other products made with ingredients from pigs, including medical products, such as insulin to treat diabetes. The United States is the world's third-largest producer of pork products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that U.S. pork exports in 2014 were valued at over $6 billion. Two lethal, highly contagious diseases in pigs emerged in the United States in 2013 and 2014, causing the deaths of millions of pigs. The two emerging diseases are collectively known as Swine Enteric Coronavirus Diseases (SECD). This book examines the initial response to the SECD outbreaks, USDA's subsequent actions to manage SECD, and steps USDA has taken to improve its future response to emerging animal diseases.
