The Canadian Swine Health Board suggests open communication and cooperation among North American pork industry stakeholders is key to gaining control of an outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea.
An outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea, first identified in the U.S. in mid-May, has spread to at least 17 states impacting over 500 farms.
Monitoring through the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network has shown the infection is not yet present in Canada and stakeholders have stepped up their focus on biosecurity to keep the infection out.
Canadian Swine Health Board executive director Bob Harding says the concern is that it spreads very easily and none of our herds have any immunity to this because it’s such a new disease in North America.
Right now we know where it is.
It’s at our border, that’s where we have to watch things.
If it turns out to be in any part of Canada then that changes our strategy on protecting the industry and we would need to know so every two weeks or so we’re having a national call with the Chief Veterinary Officers, the CFIA, the Canadian Pork Council, Canadian Swine Health Board and there is representation there from the labs that are doing the testing of samples that are being submitted and we are comparing notes on call and so there’s a lot of things we’re learning from each other as we go through this in preparation.
It’s really updating each other on what’s happening.
We’re able to update our Canadian stakeholders on what we’re learning from our American friends and what they’re learning as well.
Harding notes the Canadian Swine Health Board has developed a template for responding in the event the infection is discovered in Canada and several provinces have developed their own regional strategies.
He says the CSHB is tracking these efforts and facilitating collaboration among the regions to coordinate a national response to any local developments.
