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PED Arrives

Friday, 24 January 2014 at 14:50

Deadly virus for piglets becomes a major concern for producers after Middlesex County case

Pork producers are stressing today there is no risk to humans from a pig virus found on a farm in Middlesex County.

The virus, porcine epidemic diarrhea or PED, has affected up to 90% of the piglets on the infected farm, and has already killed millions of piglets in the United States.

The Middlesex case is the first in Canada and was confirmed by a lab in Guelph and samples have been sent to a federal lab in Winnipeg for further confirmation.

Chair of Ontario Pork, Amy Cronin tells Heart FM while humans do not have to worry about it, the virus can take its toll on a farm.  "Although there's no concern for humans, so pork producers themselves don't need to worry about their health, they're worried about their animals and their baby piglets dying.  There's a huge economic impact for producers, but it's also very emotional because it's difficult to go through watching the animals you work to care for everyday die."

Premier Kathleen Wynne says the province is working with federal inspectors to do whatever is needed to contain the spread of the disease.

Cronin says that includes local pork producers doing their best as well, "It is very contagious, and so our producers need to be aware that it is in our province now and they need to heighten their biosecurity."

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