Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development says a quick response by both the producers and their veterinarians have helped avoid any spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea from two infected sites.
On January 7th Alberta's first case of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea was reported on a 400 sow farrow to finish operation and a second case was reported on February 21st on a 600 sow farrow to finish operation.
Dr. Julia Keenliside, a Veterinary Epidemiologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, says in both cases fast responses kept the virus from spreading.
Clip-Dr. Julia Keenliside-Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development:
In terms of the first site cleanup is well underway.
They still have high levels biosecurity and biocontainment on the site but they've been really working hard at the cleanup.
It's anticipated it's still going to take several more weeks yet.
To clean a farrow to finish operation does take some time.
The second site is already starting into the cleanup phase and the clinical signs are abating and so they are moving quite well into that phase.
Very similar to the first site, they have very much increased the biosecurity around their site.
They've stopped movement of animals and they've reacted very quickly to try and contain this on the site.
As with the first case, in the second case there was extremely rapid action taken both by the producer and the veterinarian in noticing and diagnosing the virus.
That's critical to being able to contain it and prevent the spread.
Early detection and early diagnosis are very very important and we encourage everybody to please check out all cases of diarrhea that are unusual in your barn with your veterinarian.
Dr. Keenliside says, although high traffic hog site surveillance continues to show negative results suggesting no further spread, high traffic sites should always be considered potentially infected and the highest levels of biosecurity should be maintained.
Source : farmscape