Spillover of pseudorabies virus variants to humans: an urgent call for pseudorabies eradication in domestic pigs

Pseudorabies virus, an α-herpesvirus historically considered a veterinary pathogen restricted to pigs, has now emerged as a zoonotic agent capable of causing severe and often fatal infections in humans. Since 2017, novel pseudorabies virus variants in China have been shown to be able to breach species barriers, leading to 31 laboratory-confirmed human cases of encephalitis and endophthalmitis with high mortality and disability rates by 2023. In this Personal View, we synthesise current evidence on the virological evolution, cross-species transmission dynamics, and clinical consequences of pseudorabies virus, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated One Health response. We argue that eradication of pseudorabies virus from domestic pigs through enhanced vaccination, biosecurity, and policy support is both feasible and essential to mitigate this emerging public health threat.