Saskatchewan steps up screening for PED as cases rise in Manitoba
By Lynn Redl-Huntington
Saskatchewan is stepping up its screening efforts as the Manitoba pork industry continues to deal with rising cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED).
Since October 25th, 22 swine operations in Manitoba have been confirmed to have PED, a highly contagious virus that causes severe dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea in pigs. While older animals can recover, the virus is generally fatal in piglets.
The bulk of the cases are within what Manitoba Pork Council is calling a “high-risk area”, covering a large portion of southeastern Manitoba. The majority of cases in previous years have also come from the same area.
“These recent cases are an important reminder that PED is present in other parts of Canada. Continued commitment to biosecurity protocols on our province’s hog farms and enhanced transport biosecurity by swine transporters are Saskatchewan’s most important line of defence,” said Mark Ferguson from Sask Pork. “We strongly recommend that everyone in the industry remains vigilant to ensure that Saskatchewan remains free of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea.”
Officials say that Saskatchewan’s primary risk of exposure is transport trucks returning from Manitoba. The Ministry of Agriculture and Sask Pork sent advisories to producers and transporters last week, which recommended that transporters scrape, wash and disinfect their trailers before going to any swine premise as well as after visiting any slaughter plant/assembly yard. Transporters can also protect hog herds by practicing strong biosecurity protocols, including farm site entry procedures, and respecting the line of separation, wearing disposable boot covers and dedicated clothing during loading and unloading. Drivers are also reminded to never walk onto the loading dock or into barns, including office areas.
Sask Pork and the Ministry of Agriculture have also increased the frequency of screening for PED at truck wash stations. Sask Pork and the Ministry of Agriculture are reminding producers that in addition to truck washes, any other high-traffic sites, such as auction markets, assembly yards, abattoirs, and scrape-out sites are potential sources of contamination and must be treated as potential sources of disease at all times.
“While biosecurity is always important to keep PED and other diseases out of the herd, the expanding PED outbreak in Manitoba highlights that it is even more critical to ensure strict biosecurity measures are in place,” said Dr. Stephanie Smith, Saskatchewan’s Chief Veterinary Officer. “We recommend producers remind all staff and transporters about the importance of maintaining biosecurity at all times. We don't always know where disease may have spread, so the best practice is to prevent pathogens from entering the barn in the first place.”
The first case of PED in Canada was confirmed in January 2014, on a swine farm in Ontario. Since then, PED has also been reported in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and Prince Edward Island. PED does not affect humans or other animals and does not pose a food safety risk.
Changes in prevalence or type of diarrhea in pigs can be a sign of PED. Producers are asked to report changes to their herd veterinarian immediately and to ensure up-to-date records of recent pig movement are available.
For more information on biosecurity protocols at high-risk sites, please visit:
https://www.manitobapork.com/animal-care/biosecurity/on-farm-disease-prevention