OTTAWA — The 65th farm infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea in Ontario was confirmed Nov. 20. It was the second of only two cases confirmed since July.
Greg Douglas, Ontario’s chief veterinarian, is nevertheless reluctant to enthuse over control measures.
“With a lot of these viruses, I think you’ve got to be very careful about patting yourself on the back. With PED and swine delta corona viruses, there’s going to be more viruses that are going to affect not only the pork industry … but others,” he said.
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“I think we’ve got to be really careful about seeing the end or giving ourselves too many accolades because we have to continue to work on biosecurity at the farmgate.”
Douglas acknowledges the preparation time that Canada enjoyed after the United States first diagnosed PED in April 2013. Producer engagement and the work of Canadian agencies, governments and swine veterinarians put measures in place that have minimized PED’s impact.
Canada confirmed its first case in January, which proved to be a strain similar to that seen in the U.S.
Harpreet Kochhar, Canada’s chief veterinary officer, said the Canadian Swine Health Board was instrumental in informing producers of the threat and encouraging strict biosecurity on farms and at border crossings.
Kochar said Ontario had eliminated PED at 21 of the affected sites as of late September. One infected Quebec farm has now tested negative, as has the one case in Prince Edward Island.
Several of the six infected farms in Manitoba are still battling the virus.
“I do see the glass half full. It’s kind of a success story for Canada, de-pending on how you see it,” Kochar told the National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council Nov. 25.
“We have been able to maintain the market in an open stage.”
PED is not a federally reportable disease, but some provinces made it reportable to better track and control infection.
The World Health Organization does not list PED as reportable because it does not affect human health. However, Kochar said the World Organization for Animal Health is kept informed of Canadian PED cases in the interests of transparency.
The virus thrives in cold weather, so Douglas warned that more cases are likely in coming months.
“We’re going into a critical season,” he said.
“Winter is when the virus does the best, has the most longevity. So I think we have to be very conscious of our own biosecurity promotion and prevention, and then if there is a break, then working closely with your veterinarian on strategies so you don’t make it worse.”
PED has been confirmed in 32 U.S. states and two weeks ago was found for the first time in Hawaii. The virus has killed millions of piglets across the U.S. in the last 18 months.
