Italian pig disease a threat to Canadian exports
Written by on February 10th, 2012 in Latest News.
More than 50 per cent of Canada’s swine are exported, so a disease outbreak could be devastating. (CBC)
An outbreak of a pig disease in Italy could threaten Canadian swine exports if it makes its way across the Atlantic, says a health management expert at Charlottetown’s Atlantic Veterinary College.
Dr. Dan Hurnik, of the Canadian Swine Health Board, wants travellers and pig farmers to take precautions against swine vesicular disease, which causes blisters on pigs’ feet and mouths.
The disease is not a risk to humans, but Hurnik said the virus can survive a long time in uncooked and cured meat. That’s how it has spread in the Mediterranean.
Hurnik said care needs to be taken in determining what meats come to North America, particularly at the airport.
“And we have to be very vigilant that we don’t accidentally import these diseases,” he said.
“The second measure is that either fresh or dried, cured products should never be fed to pigs, or even be taken into the barn where there’s accidental introduction of these to pigs.”
Hurnik said a devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease in cattle in England in 2001 is believed to have been started by a sandwich that was left in a barn.
The Italian outbreak isn’t large, said Hurnik, but more than 50 per cent of Canada’s swine is exported, so this virus would devastate the industry if it came here.
