The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs says all pork producers have a role to play in ensuring African Swine Fever is kept out of the North American swine herd.
On Friday Swine Health Ontario, the Ontario Pork Industry Council and Ontario Pork hosted a telephone town hall which provided an update on African Swine Fever.
Dr. Christa Arsenault, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs co-lead for the Ontario Animal Health Network, says we all have a role to play in prevention and preparedness.
Clip-Dr. Christa Arsenault-Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs:
African Swine Fever is caused by a virus that has never been detected in Canada to date.
This virus only infects swine, both domestic and wild, and has no food safety or public health implications.
In the year 2018, African Swine Fever has been detected in both eastern and western Europe, including but not limited to Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, and the Czech Republic and also in Russia and in China.
In some of these countries ASF has been detected in wild pigs only and others ASF has been detected in both wild pigs and domestic swine operations varying in size.
The clinical signs associated with African Swine Fever include pigs with a fever, abortions of pregnant sows, vomiting and diarrhea, lack of appetite, red colored blotches on the skin that are caused by internal bleeding.
These clinical signs can mimic a number of swine diseases that are commonly detected on swine farms within Ontario.
Dr. Arsenault advises producers to contact their herd veterinarian immediately if clinical signs are observed that could be associated with ASF, never move, sell or send to livestock auctions sick or compromised pigs and to be prepared by creating an on farm emergency plan.
Source : farmscape