Stopping PED Virus in its Tracks
Canada's swine industry has all the tools it needs to prevent an outbreak here of the deadly virus that is sweeping across the United States, says a veterinarian with the Canadian Swine Health Board.
The biosecurity protocols that have been set up on Alberta hog farms are second to none and can provide producers with the best protection possible against porcine epidemic diarrhea, provided that those protocols are followed to the letter, CHSB national director Lucie Verdon said in her address to the Alberta Pork AGM in Calgary on Nov. 14.
An outbreak of PED in Canada would be especially dangerous because it is caused by a virus that has never been here before. Consequently, the animals here have not developed any natural immunity and, so far, there is no vaccine. It is especially dangerous in the maternity unit, with nearly 100 per cent mortality in litters born to sows that have picked up the disease.
While devastating in the barn, PED affects pigs only and does not transfer to humans or other animals, so the meat is safe to eat, said Verdon.
She warned producers to be especially vigilant in watching for signs and to call their veterinarian immediately if they see something suspicious.
The disease is spread though feces, which appears to be how it is hitching a ride on transport units travelling between farms and packing plants.
Based on what has happened in the US, the virus commonly starts in the finishing barn and then works its way back to the nursery.
Julia Keenliside, veterinary epidemiologist for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, said the disease had hit seven states before they knew it was there. Canadian officials are asking producers to join them in doing everything possible to keep that from happening here.
A major factor there was the failure of producers to report a problem, which allowed the virus to spread rapidly before anyone was aware that something was amiss, said Verdon.
The first clinical case was reported in Iowa on May 17. It had hit 17 states by Nov. 11 and two more on Nov. 14, when Verdon made her presentation to Alberta producers.
She asked producers to review their biosecurity protocols and make sure every step was being followed to the letter, including tracking truck movement and making sure those trucks aren't bringing contaminated material onto their farms.
"Please don't just hide it, because you are going to put the whole country in trouble," she said.
"Please don't do the three "S's", (shoot, shovel and shut up), because if you do, you're going to hear the fourth "S", and it's going to be me, swearing at you in French and English both," she said.
"Check for the clinical signs. Don't sleep on the switch. If you're thinking about PED, if there's scouring or something going on, call your vet," said Verdon.
Keenliside promised producers that this potential outbreak is unfolding much differently than the discovery of H1N1 on an Alberta farm in 2009.
"We are prepared ahead of time and we know how to communicate," she said.
"I'm not going to put a white suit on and come out and shut you down. Processors will be alerted and you can continue to ship your pigs."
She said the advantage this time is that everyone knows the disease is coming, which provides the opportunity for an aggressive defence.
Applications are now in place for dedicated trailers to respond on farm, and the Alberta government will pay for the first veterinary visit if PED is suspected on the farm.
"We're working co-operatively with the other provinces and with the Canadian Swine Health Board to ensure there's notification across Canada," she said.
"Can we keep it out? I guess the jury is out on that. The big thing is that we can't go down without a fight. We've kept classical swine fever, we've kept pseudo-rabies out of Canada for 30, 40, 50 years. I think we have a chance here." •
— By Brenda Kossowan
