PEDv epidemic prompts ‘increased level of washing’; Brandon facility busier than usual

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/07/2017 (3241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While there’s no “smoking gun” as to what caused the ongoing porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) outbreak in Manitoba’s southeast, its timeline corresponds with the elimination of a federal government-issued disinfecting regulation.

In response to an outbreak of the virus in the United States at the time, the former Conservative government introduced a pilot program in 2014, which legislated that hog trailers coming in from the United States needed to be properly disinfected once they returned to Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s support for the program was withdrawn last summer, after which the Liberals did not legislate its reinstatement.

Located at the east side of Brandon, the Western Canadian Swine Transport Wash Program-certified Blue Water Wash specializes in the type of trailer washing that was legislated under the pilot program.

Describing the process, Steve’s Livestock Transport and Blue Water Wash chief operating officer Bill Rempel said that the first step involves scraping everything out of the trailer into one of their wash bays.

The trailer is then flushed out with a fire hose, after which soap is applied and a pressure wash is performed.

A final soak is done, followed by the application of a disinfectant.

The trailer is then inspected, after which it faces rewashing if any shortcomings are noted.

Then, the trailer is brought into a separate building where it is heated at a minimum of 75 C for at least 15 minutes.

Rempel joined a team of delegates in travelling to Ottawa a few weeks ago to participate in an emergency committee meeting to address the growing PEDv epidemic.

Since the pilot program was quashed last year, those transporting hog trailers over the border have not been required to wash them on their return to Canada.

Instead, some people are limiting their trailer wash to facilities in the United States, where PEDv is more widespread and where facilities do not necessarily carry the same processes as Blue Water Wash.

Since the PEDv epidemic took hold, “there’s definitely been an increased level of biosecurity and an increased level of washing” among those in the hog industry, Rempel said, adding that their 24-7 facility has been busier than usual in recent days, where approximately 300 trailers are washed per week.

On Tuesday, Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire said that he’d continue to push the Liberals to reinstate the biosecurity measures they allowed to lapse.

Maguire has been on the case for several months, having pushed for the emergency committee meeting in Ottawa that Rempel joined a handful of others in speaking up at a few weeks ago.

In emailed correspondence on Tuesday, Maguire described the Liberals’ response to the issue thus far as “banal.”

“Sending out a press release to do another review of the regulations means nothing to those whose livelihoods are at risk,” Maguire wrote, adding that since the emergency meeting was held he has reached across the aisle to speak with people of various political stripes in hopes of resolving this problem.

“I am willing to work with anyone to help apply enough pressure for the Liberal government to finally listen,” he wrote.

“I will continue to stand up and fight for farm families. I will not let their blatant inertia deter me as there is way too much at risk if they continue to do nothing.”

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB