Overview

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a viral disease of pigs that significantly impacts Ontario’s pork industry. It causes:

  • severe diarrhea, vomiting and death in piglets
  • mild diarrhea in older pigs

The disease is not a food safety or human health issue. It only affects pigs and does not affect other animals.

As a licensed meat plant operator, you play an important role in preventing further spread of the disease and ensuring that your plant is not a source of contamination to Ontario swine farms.

High-risk area

The part where the meat plant and delivery vehicles connect is the most high-risk environment for transmission and contamination. This includes the:

  • animal load-off chute
  • live animal holding areas
  • staff movement between vehicles and the plant

Focus your attention and efforts on these parts of the production process to prevent the spread of the PED virus.

Best management practices

The goal is to avoid cross-contamination between the outside environment and the plant.

Follow these general recommendations:

  • Eliminate cross-traffic in the yard, on the ramp and within the plant.
  • Have footwear that is only worn inside the plant.
  • Between dirty and clean areas within the plant:
    • place barriers, such as a Danish entry
    • change clothes and boots
    • wash hands

Plant staff

Deliveries

Properly trained plant staff should be present for all deliveries of animals (no unattended deliveries):

  • plant staff should not walk where the delivery drivers have walked
  • if staff need to help with unloading animals, they must change or disinfect their footwear and outer clothing before returning to the plant
  • plant staff should not enter the transport truck to unload animals and truck drivers should not enter the plant while unloading animals

Going outside

If plant staff must go outside, they should:

  • wear different footwear and outer clothing outside
  • follow your plant’s standard operating procedures for cleaning and sanitizing when returning to the plant

Travel between barn and plant

If staff are travelling between the barn and the plant, they should:

  • wash their hands
  • change their outer clothing and footwear

Drivers

Restrict drivers to the truck and unloading area. Drivers should not enter the barn or plant.

Only drivers should go into the back of the trailer or truck to direct animals toward the chute.

Consider rebuilding the chute area to allow the driver to get in and out of the truck or trailer without walking where plant staff walk. For example, you could install a chute extender.

Chute

Keep it clean

Keep the chute and unloading area clean.

Wash and disinfect the chute and ramp between each load of pigs:

  • wash with high pressure water using a detergent and ensure that all visible manure is removed
  • after washing, use approved disinfectants following the product instructions ensuring the recommended product contact times.
  • allow disinfected areas appropriate time to dry before further use

Follow your plant’s cleaning and disinfection protocols and standard operating procedures.

Additional measures

It may be challenging to wash the chutes if they are made of wood and weather conditions are poor. Consider:

  • building a cover over the ramp to keep it from freezing after washing
  • sealing any wood chutes with paint or other appropriate products as weather permits