Manitoba’s Office of the Chief Veterinarian (CVO) confirmed that a second case of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) has been found in a finisher barn in southeastern Manitoba, in addition to the one found in a batch-farrow sow barn a week ago.
The producer is fully cooperating with the CVO and has implemented control measures on the site. Epidemiological investigation is ongoing. Direct and indirect contacts and farms within 5 km of the site are being contacted.
Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus is a disease occurring only in pigs, caused by a coronavirus that does exactly what the disease name implies: produces acute and severe outbreaks of diarrhea that rapidly transmits among all ages of pigs (epidemic). There is no risk to human health.
Huge numbers of virus particles are shed in feces. One thimble-full of feces could contain enough virus to infect all the pigs in the United States. The PED virus is being detected in samples collected from pig collection points, slaughter facilities, transportation vehicles and innumerable fomites illustrating the vast potential for transmission.
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