February 24, 2014
Canada conducts feed tests over PED outbreak
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced that it is conducting tests on feed pellets produced by Grand Valley Fortifiers to determine whether contaminated feed may be the cause of the outbreak of a deadly pig virus.
The porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) virus was first detected in Canada at an Ontario pig farm less than one month ago. To date, the virus has been reported at 16 farms in Ontario and at one each in Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.
CFIA said that results are expected "within days."
Meanwhile, Prince Edward Island confirms first case of deadly pig virus slowed by steps taken since US outbreak gave ''heads up''. According to the CFIA, Grand Valley Fortifiers issued a voluntary recall on February 9 for some of its pelleted feed products that contain porcine plasma.
Samples of the plasma obtained from the manufacturer that supplies Grand Valley Fortifiers found evidence of the PED virus, the agency says. The plasma had been used as an ingredient in Grand Valley''s feed pellets.
Further testing confirmed that the contaminated plasma can cause pigs to fall ill. The testing announced will determine if the pellets themselves can cause piglets to fall ill.
The CFIA is also reviewing records of other imports of swine plasma and will work with the Council of Chief Veterinary Officers and the pork industry in Canada to proactively manage the possible risk of transmission through feed.
The agency also warned that further recalls or other actions may be necessary to "minimise the potential that feed could contribute to the transmission of this disease in Canada."
The virus does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, the CFIA says.
The highly contagious virus has killed millions of piglets in the US since last May. The head of the Canadian Swine Health Board said the disease has been contained in Canada because of tighter controls that were put in place in the wake of the outbreak south of the border, as well as "more vigilant" farming practices in Canada.