Alta. declares PEDv a reportable disease

Mindful of its potentially devastating effect on farrowing operations, and its recent arrival in Canada, Alberta has moved to declare the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) a reportable disease.

Dr. Gerald Hauer, the province’s chief veterinarian, announced the change in PEDv’s status effective Jan. 20, citing “the economic harm that it could cause to the pork industry if it spreads to Alberta.”

Starting Jan. 20, “all known or suspect cases” of PEDv in Alberta must be reported to the Hauer’s office within 24 hours, either at 780-427-3448 during regular business hours or 1-800-524-0051 after hours.

Given that transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) causes “very similar” symptoms to PEDv, Hauer noted TGE is also reportable in Alberta, “although there will be no government response to TGE cases.”

Making PEDv a reportable disease “will help minimize the risk of the disease becoming established in Alberta,” he said.

However, as discussed during the recent Banff Pork Seminar — where news broke of Ontario’s, and Canada’s, first case of PEDv, on a Middlesex County farrow-to-finish operation — Alberta’s 350 commercial producers have a couple of things working in their favour.

For more on Alberta’s plan against PEDv, read Alexis Kienlen’s article from the latest issue of Alberta Farmer Express. — AGCanada.com Network