WINNIPEG, MB — There is a deadly virus affecting pigs across the United States. As a result, Canadian livestock haulers are being urged to take precautions to keep the disease from spreading in to Canada.

Hog Wash 
The Manitoba Pork Council (MPC) urges livestock haulers to use fresh, not recycled, water and to disinfect and dry all trucks that have returned from the U.S. before going to a pig farm in Canada.

“Truckers should wash their truck and trailers with only fresh water, use an appropriate disinfectant and follow a sound wash process as prepared by the Canadian Swine Health Board,” said Miles Beaudin, quality assurance manager for MPC.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) has infected hogs at 199 sites in 13 states. PED hadn’t been seen in North America until just a few weeks ago. The disease is typically fatal to very young pigs.

PED does not affect humans and eating meat from PED-infected pig is safe. There are currently no cases reported in Canada.