Manitoba Pork has now confirmed 21 cases of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PED) in 2019, which include 10 sow, 2 nursery, and 9 finisher operations.

Nineteen of those are in southeast Manitoba and two west of the Red River in the Lowe Farm/Morris area. Manager of Swine Health Program Jenelle Hamblin says there were cases west of the Red River back in 2017. Those cases were traced to direct animal movement, however the 2019 cases (both sow operations) did not have any direct animal movement and really no identifiable contacts to any previously infected farms in the southeast.

"It's definitely concerning," said Hamblin. "We've done a lot of surveillance testing in the area, as we have done in the southeast as well, making sure that we can catch it if it is moving...I know that the farms in that area are being hyper-diligent with keeping an eye out for potential signs."

Manitoba Pork is strongly recommending that producers ramp up their biosecurity efforts.

Registered producers can log in to the password protected Manitoba Coordinated Disease Response (MCDR) to access more detailed information on PED-affected premises, including status, location and manure application.

To register for the MCDR, or for any other swine health concerns, contact Jenelle Hamblin, Manitoba Pork's Manager of Swine Health Programs, at jhamblin@manitobapork.com or 204-235-4442.