Virus will keep piglets from California State Fair

The California State Fair’s popular piglet exhibit will be shut down this year because of a viral epidemic that has killed millions of young pigs across the country and caused a spike in pork prices.

The Sacramento Bee reports the devastating virus, spread through fecal matter, has affected 5,000 farms and killed more than 8 million piglets.

In response, the State Fair, which opens Friday, will forego the piglet exhibit and step up veterinary inspections of adult pigs.

County and state fairs across the country are taking similar precautions as farmers struggle to manage the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, which is believed to have originated in China. It was discovered in the United States last year.

The disease causes severe diarrhea. It does not affect humans or other animals.