Manitoba’s pork industry is celebrating significant progress in the fight against Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED), thanks to the dedication of producers, veterinarians, and barn staff who have worked tirelessly to uphold strict biosecurity standards.
PED, a viral gastrointestinal infection first detected in the U.S. in 2013 and in Manitoba in 2014, has been a recurring challenge for the province. Major outbreaks peaked with 80 cases in 2017, 82 in 2019, and more than 120 cases between 2021–2022. Those events prompted the creation of the Manitoba PED Elimination Plan, a coordinated effort aimed at long-term control and prevention.
According to Jenelle Hamblin, Director of Swine Health with Manitoba Pork, the results of that plan are now clear.
“Since that large outbreak in 2022, we’ve been back to single-digit numbers,” Hamblin explained. “In 2024 we had just one case, fully contained without spread. In 2025, two cases have been confirmed—one is already presumptive negative under elimination protocol, and the second is in the process of elimination.”
Hamblin credits the decline to enhanced biosecurity measures, greater disease awareness, and strengthened surveillance protocols implemented on-farm. She emphasized that these efforts not only protect herds from PED but also guard against a wide range of swine diseases.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the work being done every single day by veterinarians, producers, and barn staff to maintain those high levels of biosecurity,” she added.
The ripple effects of this discipline are already being seen. Veterinarians across Manitoba are also reporting stable or reduced incidences of other diseases, suggesting stronger herd health overall.
PED remains a constant concern for pork producers worldwide, but Manitoba’s experience highlights how a collaborative, proactive approach can deliver measurable success in containment.
