A deadly virus known as Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PEDv) is spreading across Ontario, and health officials have confirmed that a fourth case of the outbreak has been found affecting two more regions.
According to Reuters, the pig virus, which was found in the United States last May, has now made its way to the farm regions of Ontario and Quebec. The disease has reportedly been spreading through pig manure.
An Ontario's hog farmer representative told the Canadian Press that the manure can easily become attached to trucks, trailers, clothes and boots; reports call it "the simplest way to spread."
Last week, the country's first case of virus was found and health officials noted that in between two and five days, hundreds of piglets had died from the disease. A farm located in Middlesex County was first to notice the disease picking up.
"Since its arrival, PED has been spreading relentlessly...PED spreads within barns and from farm to farm, even when strict biosecurity measures - hand-washing for livestock workers - are in place. That's because it can survive in tiny bits of manure that travel on boots or trucks," NPR reported.
The Canadian Press reported that farmers fear the disease could easily wipe out their stock of pigs, if it is not dealt with as soon as possible. According to the USDA's National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), the virus cases diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. The survival rate for older pigs is greater, but the virus still kills 80 to 100 percent of pigs it comes in contact with.
"Investigative teams in the U.S. are working to establish the source of the outbreak, and it is hoped that detailed questionnaires from veterinarians in the U.S. will provide answers as well," the Canadian Swine Health Board website reported.
PEDv does not affect humans, but can potently affect and kill off important food supplies, such as the pork industry. This particular industry usually makes tens of millions of dollars a year.
The Canadian Swine Health Board have been studying a strategy to stop the spread of the disease. The RNA Particle Vaccine, an already existing immunization, has been used in U.S. farms but the pigs "show no guaranteed resilience to PEDv." A second vaccination is reportedly in the works.
"Protecting the Canadian herd from this disease threat is critical to the success of our industry," Florian Possberg, Chair of Canadian Swine Health Board, said in a statement. "We all have a role to play, and the overwhelming response from the Canadian industry demonstrates the interest in doing whatever can be done."
