Canada will be hosting the first ever international forum on African swine fever at the end of April in Ottawa.

Jenelle Hamblin is the Manager of Swine Health Programs with Manitoba Pork.

"Manitoba Pork Council will be sending two people to participate to talk about the importance of working together on this type of threat," she said. "Our hope is to gain some further knowledge and to further the conversation on how we can collaborate and protect ourselves, but also protect our sector should we be faced with something such as this."

The federal government also announced new funding of up to $31 million to increase the number of detector dogs at Canadian airports to help prevent illegally imported meat products from entering into the country.

There have been no reported cases of African swine fever in North America.