The Chief Veterinary Office of Manitoba has confirmed and the Manitoba Pork Council has announced that Manitoba’s first case of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PEDv, has been found on a wean to finish farm in the southeast corner of the province. The positive test was confirmed through the National Centre for Foreign Disease Control in Winnipeg.
PEDv is a devasting disease of hogs, especially lethal to piglets, that has spread throughout most of the United States and, most recently, has been confirmed on more than 10 farms in Ontario. The virus causes no risk to human health, it should be noted.
From the province:
The CVO and the Manitoba Pork Council (MPC) developed a response plan last fall on how to work with affected farms, the hog industry and other stakeholders to eradicate the disease on any infected farms, prevent the spread of PED and investigate the sources of infection. They are following through on that plan with the affected farm and with the industry as a whole.
The affected producer has been working closely with the Manitoba government and the MPC to contain the virus on the premises and has chosen to restrict all animal movement on and off the farm. To date, the animals have shown less severe symptoms and mortalities are within the normal range for a farm operation of this type.
The current focus of the Office of the CVO’s investigation is to identify any contact that other farms may have had with the premises. The investigation will also look into how the virus may have arrived at the farm.
On Feb. 3, the Manitoba government and the MPC launched a rapid-detection monitoring program for PED where facilities that move or handle large numbers of pigs can determine if they have been exposed. No cases have been detected using this system to date, but its operations will continue.
Trucks transporting pigs can help reduce the risk of transmitting PED between farms by following appropriate truck-washing protocols. The Manitoba government, the MPC and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have been providing this information to transport vehicles at the Manitoba border since earlier this month.
See more: Up to date information from Manitoba Pork, including biosecurity measures, can be found here
Hog producers should talk to their veterinarian if they suspect a case of PEDv — testing is paid for by the Manitoba government and confidentiality is assured. Farmers should be reviewing all biosecurity measures in place as the virus can survive on trucks and equipment and is highly transmissible. The MPC can provide resources and expertise in this area and producers can connect with them at 1-888-893-7447 (toll-free) or online at www.manitobapork.com.
Please register to read and comment.