The fifth reported, fourth confirmed case of the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus, a disease that causes diarrhea and vomiting in pigs, has been discovered in Alberta.
Alberta Pork is working closely with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry to fully investigate this outbreak and prevent the disease from spreading further. Any producers operating within the 60-kilometre buffer zone surrounding the affected premise will be notified separately and provided additional biosecurity instruction.
This outbreak follows four other reported PED cases in Alberta, one of which ended up being a false positive. The other cases were announced in January and February 2019, and earlier this month. In all cases, pig movements were stopped immediately following discovery of the disease.
Strict biosecurity protocols are of utmost importance in limiting the impact of disease in agriculture. It is especially critical during this outbreak that producers consider enhancing biosecurity on-farm and in animal transportation. Producers are encouraged to submit all swine manifests, including farm-to-farm movements, in a timely manner. For more information on what you can do to protect your farm, see our PED toolbox.
Any place off-farm, such as an abattoir, should be considered as a potential source for bringing disease to your herd. Producers are reminded to review their farms’ biosecurity policies regularly and consult Alberta Pork or your herd veterinarian as required. Producers should also consult their herd veterinarians before making shipping decisions as a precaution if herd health issues are suspected.
PED affects pigs but poses no risk to human health. This incident has not caused any food safety concerns, and pork products remain safe for consumption. Alberta Pork will continue to communicate updates on this outbreak as new information is received. Read the official update from the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian.
Source : Alberta Pork