January 24, 2014 - 1:00 AM
TORONTO - Officials in Ontario say they're certain Canada has its first case of a pig virus that has killed millions of piglets in the U.S.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture says the case of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus was discovered in a farm in the province's southwest.
Ontario's chief veterinarian says for all intents and purposes, the case is considered confirmed after lab tests conducted in Guelph, Ont., detected the virus.
Dr. Greg Douglas says samples taken from the farm where several pigs have died have been sent to a federal lab in Winnipeg for further testing.
Douglas says the farm is "under control" and its owner is co-operating with officials to make sure no products or animals leave to threaten the Ontario pork industry.
The virus does not affect food safety, and officials say it poses no risk to human health or other animals and pork remains safe for consumers to eat.
The virus can be transmitted by anything contaminated by manure, including trucks, trailers and clothing, a group representing Ontario's hog industry warned its members.
Ontario Pork recommends producers keep trucks and truckers off their property until they have been properly washed and disinfected.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014