While three cases of PEDv virus does not an epidemic make, the third PEDv case on a sow farm in southeastern Manitoba, is cause for grave concern says Karl Kynoch, chair of Manitoba Pork.
The week of September 22, the Office of the Chief Veterinarian in Manitoba posted a notification to the MAFRD website stating a third farm in southeast Manitoba has the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv).
“Although it is disheartening to see another case arise, we should use this as a lesson learned and elevate our biosecurity practices, especially with cold, wet weather looming,” said Kynoch in a special Pork Chop message sent via email. “As we know, the risk of the virus spreading increases exponentially in colder seasons.”
Kynoch outlines three risky practices that are putting the farms and industry at amplified risk:
1. Some producers have not been wearing disposable boot covers while outside of their vehicles when at high-risk sites, such as assembly yards. You should always put them on when exiting your vehicle and remove them as you re-enter the vehicle, making sure to dispose of them in a bio-secure way by putting them immediately into a garbage bag or receptacle.
2. Some producers are not washing their trucks and trailers when returning from high-risk sites. This is an absolute must.
3. Many producers are performing self-washes instead of full-service washes. This, in and of itself, is fine, if you’re performing a thorough wash.
The Manitoba Pork chair says information has it some producers are performing self-washes by themselves in under 30 minutes.
“We know most full-service washes take two workers and two hours to complete, putting the quality of some of our self-washes in question,” he says. “Be sure to follow the best protocols to prevent bringing PEDv and other diseases back to your farm. We need to assume that all high pig-traffic sites, especially those with frequent U.S. contact, have the virus. Make sure to practice extreme caution when visiting these sites.”
In review of confirmed on-Farm cases of PEDv, the first one confirmed on Feb. 14, 2014, a finisher barn in southeast Manitoba. The second one May 8, 2014, a finisher barn in southeast Manitoba.
A Manitoba farm previously infected with PED has tested positive for the virus a second time on July 23, 2014. The last case as of this writing, date confirmed on Sept. 19, 2014, this time a sow barn.
The latest PEDv infection, the farm has gone through the necessary steps to move exposed pigs off site and to thoroughly clean and disinfect the operation. The farm had tested negative for PED following the cleaning and disinfection.
The Office of the Chief Veterinarian in Manitoba reports they recently moved the new pigs onto the site and tested positive. MAFRD is following up with the producer and the herd veterinarian to manage the disease on site. The producer has maintained very high biosecurity on the site and there is no indication the virus has spread to other farms, but the provincial investigation will follow-up with all contacts of this farm. •
— By Harry Siemens
