January 31, 2014
Truck traffic poses risk for PED spread in Canada
Truck traffic coming from the US and now local truck traffic from infected areas in Ontario pose the greatest risk for the spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED), according to the manager of the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network.
Last week the first case of PED 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.
Chris Byra, the manager of the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network, explains the virus is spread through faecal oral transmission so anything contaminated by manure poses a risk.
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 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 at the moment is still trucks returning from the US from regions that have had the virus.
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 ensure if the virus does come onto the farm that it''s stopped at the barn door.