Tests at the Alberta pig handling site where swine delta corona virus was detected last month have shown no signs of the virus.
Alberta Pork reported yesterday that re-tests of the unnamed site were taken Nov. 3.
SDCV is a highly contagious virus similar to the deadly porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and is almost always fatal to young pigs. However, no pigs in Alberta have been made ill by either SDCV or PED.
Evidence of the virus’s presence was found through surveillance testing of high-risk sites and is designed to serve as an early warning of viral presence and potential infection.
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After the delta corona virus was initially detected, the affected facility voluntarily suspended its operations but it is now operating again, Alberta Pork reported.
However, it also cautioned that negative tests aren’t any guarantee, and either virus could eventually infect hog facilities or farms.
“Any one of these sites could become positive at any time,” said the news release.
“Producers should treat all sites, such as assembly yards, abattoirs and truck washes, as potentially contaminated and take the appropriate biosecurity precautions to prevent bringing disease back to their barn.
“If any truck tries to enter your farm that has not been cleaned, don’t let it on. It poses a serious risk for bringing PED or SDCV onto your farm and into your barn.”
