By Bruce Cochrane
The manager of the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network says truck traffic coming from the U.S. and now local truck traffic from infected areas in Ontario pose the greatest risk for the spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea.
Last week the first case of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea in Canada was confirmed in Middlesex County, Ontario.
This week a second case was confirmed in the Chatham-Kent region and additional suspect cases are currently being investigated.
Dr. Chris Byra, the manager of the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network, explains the virus is spread through fecal oral transmission so anything contaminated by manure poses a risk.
Dr. Chris Byra-Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network:
The disease is very infectious.
It takes a very small amount of manure to spread that to another pig, probably a gram or less.
On the other side through it's quite easily killed by almost any disinfectant.
It has some characteristics that make it a little unique in that it survives well, best in cold weather so these are the most critical months right now but it can also survive in warm weather which is unusual for this type of virus, this corona virus.
The vectors of transmission then are anything with manure from pigs on it.
It could be the pigs themselves transferring it if you're bringing in stock.
On the other hand the biggest concern for us at the moment is still trucks returning from the United States from regions that have had the virus.
That's still the largest risk.
At this point we now have to consider local transmission as well, local transporters.
Dr. Byra says producers need to be sure that any vehicles coming on their property, particularly pig transport vehicles, have been properly cleaned and disinfected and they need to focus on biosecurity protocols that will to ensure if the virus does come onto the farm that it's stopped at the barn door.