A sustained focus on biocontainment and practical biosecurity has played a significant role in reducing the spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) across Manitoba’s swine sector, according to Manitoba Pork.
Since PED was first identified in the province in 2014, Manitoba experienced notable spikes in cases in 2017, 2019, and again in 2021–22. However, recent years have marked a clear shift, with only four confirmed PED cases reported in 2025.
According to Jenelle Hamblin, Director of Swine Health with Manitoba Pork, the improvement reflects the success of the province’s PED elimination plan, particularly its prevention pillar.
Biosecurity Through a New Lens
Hamblin says the implementation of the elimination plan prompted the sector to take a deeper, more critical look at biosecurity practices across Manitoba’s swine farms.
Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, farms worked closely with veterinarians to identify site-specific improvements, with particular emphasis on entry and exit protocols—how people, equipment, and materials move onto and off the farm.
A key priority, Hamblin explains, was ensuring biosecurity protocols were sustainable and practical, allowing staff to follow them consistently without adding unnecessary complexity to daily operations.
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