January 27, 2014
 

PED hits pig farms in Ontario and Quebec in Canada
 

The porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) has been detected in Canada in Olymel S.E.C. LP's processing facility in Saint-Esprit, Quebec on January 21 and a hog farm in Middlesex County, Ontario on January 22, according to a Bloomberg report.

While the affected farm followed strict biosecurity protocols, the virus is "extremely difficult to contain and more cases are possible", according to a government statement.

Canadian industry would suffer "disastrous economic losses" should the disease spread to Canada, as the nation's herd has no immunity to the disease, according to the Canadian Swine Heath's Board's website.

Trailer and truck movement has helped the virus spread over long-distances, according to Greg Douglas, Ontario's chief veterinarian. While the source of the virus in Ontario has not been found, teams are continuing to investigate trucks and deliveries to the farm, he said.

Fifty subsequent tests in the Olymel's Quebec facility, which processes 30,000 hogs a week, were negative for the virus, Richard Vigneault, Olymel's spokesman told Bloomberg. The company has boosted testing and efforts to disinfect trucks to avoid introducing the virus to its facilities, he said.

Meanwhile, other provinces are stepping up biosecurity, with Saskatchewan already sanitizing trucks. Similarly, while no cases are reported in British Columbia, the province is ready with testing capabilities and is monitoring the situation with industry groups. The province says it has the ability to confirm a diagnosis within 24 hours should there be a suspected case.