Emerging diseases
According to the World Health Organization, an emerging disease is defined as « a new infection, caused by the evolution or modification of an existing pathogen or parasite, that results in a change in hosts, vector, pathogenicity or strain. The term also applies to the onset of an infection or disease that has not yet been reported».
Early detection and screening of a case is of great importance to prevent the spread of the disease. In 2013, the partners decided to mobilize the EQSP Health Technical Team to develop an intervention strategy aimed at:
- Quickly identify actions to implement to prevent the introduction of PED into the Quebec pig herd (Prevention Strategy)
- Define an action plan in the event that PED is introduced into Quebec (Control Strategy)
In 2014, Porcine Delta Coronavirus (PDCV) and in 2017 Senecavirus A were added to the EQSP strategy.
Emerging diseases are:
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) virus and Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) virus and Porcine Delta coronavirus (PDCoV) belong to the same family of viruses that cause severe diarrhea and vomiting, even death in piglets. Only pigs are affected, including wild boars, warthogs and other wild pigs.
Since early 2014, slaughterhouses that are members of Équipe quebecoise de santé porcine (EQSP) have been conducting environmental tests to preventatively detect the presence of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus or porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) on animal unloading docks and on pig transport trailers. Swine assembly centres and feed mills and some transporters, also carry out tests and report their results to EQSP.
EQSP regularly receives, compiles and communicates the results of these tests and takes the necessary actions to prevent the potential spread of the PED or PDCo virus to Quebec swine farms within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the laboratory results. Under provincial regulations, laboratory directors must report any positive case of PED and PDCoV to MAPAQ.
EQSP also encourages any Quebec stakeholder to report any positive environmental test results for PED or PDCoV. Any declaration allows EQSP to carry out the necessary follow-ups, in collaboration with the stakeholders concerned, in order to minimize the risks of spreading these diseases. Failing this, the MAPAQ could undertake follow-up actions based on its legal and regulatory powers.
PEDV cases diagnosed in Quebec as of 2026-03-18 (French)
PDCoV cases diagnosed in Quebec as of 2026-03-18 (French)
Survival time of PED virus in different media
EQSP Action Plan for PED and PDCoV Cases in Quebec
- Criteria for regaining negative status of a site infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) or porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
- Appendix 1 – Summary of Roles and Responsibilities in the Implementation of the Action Plan
- Appendix 2 – Questionnaire to the Producer in the Case of PED or PDCoV
- Appendix 3 – Description of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED)
- Appendix 4 – Description of Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
- Appendix 5-A – Swine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) Release Templates
- Appendix 5-B – Swine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) Reporting Templates
- Appendix 6 – Response Plan for Veterinarians for the Control and Elimination of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) and Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) in a Herd
- Appendix 6-A – Breeder’s Consent Form
- Appendix 7 – Biocontainment and Biosecurity Measures for Producers and On-Farm Employees for Swine Production Sites Infected with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) or Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
- Appendix 7-A – Visitor Registry for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) or Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) Infected Site
- Appendix 7-B – Guide to Cleaning, Washing, Disinfecting and Drying Pig Barns
- Appendix 7-C – Procedure for Cleaning and Disinfecting Water Lines and Waterers at a Site Contaminated with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) or Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
- Annex 7-D – Measures to be applied for the management of dead animals on a site contaminated with porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) or porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
- Appendix 7-E – Procedure for Spreading Slurry
- Appendix 8 – Biosecurity Measures for Suppliers of Products and Services Not Entering Buildings
- Appendix 9 – Biosecurity Measures for Fertilizer and Herbicide Suppliers Requiring Access to a Site Contaminated with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) or Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
- Appendix 11 – Biosecurity Measures for Suppliers of Products and Services Entering Buildings
- Appendix 11 – Biosecurity Measures for Hog Transporters
- Appendix 12 – Biosecurity Measures at a Car Wash Where Trucks Contaminated with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PED) or Porcine Deltacoronavirus Virus (PDCoV) Have Been Washed
- Appendix 14 – Biosecurity Measures for Abattoirs
- Appendix 15 – Biosecurity Measures for Cleaning Crews in Buildings Where Pigs Infected with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) or Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCV) Have Been Housed
- Appendix 15 – Correspondence Logbook
- Appendix 17 – Biosecurity Measures for Slurry Crews of Pigs Infected with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PED) or Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
- Recommendations for the purchase of pigs to minimize the risk of spreading PED and PDCoV.
- Useful information on disinfectants registered in Canada and known to be effective against porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) and Senecavirus A (SVA) viruses in pigs.
Senecavirus A (SVA)
Senecavirus A is a virus in the same family of foot-and-mouth disease virus and Swine Vesicular Disease.
SVA is often associated with cases of “idiopathic vesicular disease” in pigs. This virus can be found in pigs, cattle and mice and is not a zoonosis. The virus appears to be rapidly transmitted by direct contact with infected individuals, by contaminated objects or by aerosol. Pigs shed the virus for a relatively long period of time after infection.
Its importance comes from its clinical similarity to vesicular diseases which are reportable diseases and the impact on trade while the diagnosis is being confirmed.
EQSP Action Plan for SVA Cases in Quebec
Since the summer of 2015, Senecavirus A (SVA) has been diagnosed several times in the United States and cull pigs originating in Canada that had passed through an assembly centre were diagnosed with the disease in a US slaughterhouse in October 2015 and September 2016. Faced with the threat of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) which spread rapidly in the United States following its introduction in April 2013, and then porcine deltacoronavirus (PDV) in 2014, EQSP members agreed to add Senecavirus A to the EQSP mandate in March 2017.
IIn order to minimize the risks of introduction and spread of this new disease in Quebec, the EQSP and its Technical Health Team have developed a two-part strategy to define an action plan to control and eliminate SVA in the event that this disease is introduced into Quebec.
Quebec finally experienced its first cases of SVA in the winter of 2024 and the disease was eradicated from the four affected sites during the year.