Reuters — The piglet-killing porcine epidemic diarrhea virus has spread to a fourth farm in the Ontario, the provincial government said Wednesday, despite the hog industry’s efforts to stop it by disinfecting delivery trucks and clothing used on farms.
The virus has killed more than one million piglets in the U.S. but it has so far been contained within Canada to a few southern Ontario farms.
The fourth case has been confirmed in Norfolk County along the north shore of Lake Erie, said Mark Cripps, a spokesman for Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
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The three other confirmed cases are a farm further west in Middlesex County and two near Chatham-Kent.
“Given the virulent nature of this virus, it is disappointing, but not unexpected that PED would be found in Canada and it is likely that more cases will be identified in the coming days and weeks,” Cripps said in an email.
The Middlesex County case, on a farrow-to-finish operation, was confirmed as the first Canadian case last week.
PEDv — which causes diarrhea, vomiting and severe dehydration in hogs – has turned up in 23 of the 50 states since its discovery in the U.S. last April.
The virus, which is already established in Europe and Asia, poses no threat to humans and is not a food safety risk.
— Reporting for Reuters by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg.
Related stories:
Ont. hog industry backed for added biosecurity measures, Jan. 29, 2014
PED virus hits second SW Ont. hog farm, Jan. 27, 2014
