Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 9/20/16

Officials in Manitoba are investigating the possible sources of an outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) on a sow farm that was confirmed last week.

The Manitoba government is concerned that trucks might carry the virus between the U.S. and Canada and inadvertently spread the contagious illness, which killed 8 million pigs on U.S. farms in 2014. Manitoba is a major exporter or piglets to the United States, according to USAgNet.com.

Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Office (CVO) confirmed the latest PEDV outbreak Sept. 15 and is working with Manitoba Agriculture to establish a quarantine area and remind pork producers to monitor their herds and to collect samples for testing, according to industry association Manitoba Pork. 

Manitoba Agriculture previously reported nine confirmed outbreaks of PEDV on Manitoba farms since 2014 and six of those are now considered PEDV Presumptive Negative, the agency said on its website. CVO also is offering advice to pork producers on boosting biosecurity measures as follow-up programs are launched on 220 hog operations in the province.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) also is conducting its own investigation to determine the movements of the animals with PEDV and completing its own sampling and testing, according to Manitoba Pork.  

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