Hundreds of piglets are dead at a pig farm in Essex County from porcine epidemic diarrhea, Ontario and federal veterinarians confirmed Monday, as the disease has also spread to at least one other farm in Chatham-Kent.

Ontario's Chief Veterinary Officer Gregory Douglas said a third farm is being investigated after showing the clinical signs of the disease, known as PED. The latter two farms are "finishing" farms primarily populated by adult pigs, who are less likely to die of the disease.

Douglas emphasized on a conference call that the disease is not a threat to human health, and none of the infected pigs, dead or alive, have left the farms in question. However, officials are not yet able to say precisely how the virus entered Ontario, nor how it infected other farms.

"We know this virus is very contagious, very infectious," Douglas told the conference call. "The web in Ontario is all linked."

PED was first reported in the United States last April. Despite being reported in 22 states, there have been no efforts to close the U.S.-Canadian border to pigs, relying instead on "bio-security" measures to control the spread of disease, such as washing, disinfecting and drying of trucks coming across the border.

Ontario law requires that any herd veterinarian report a "serious risk" to animal health.

Douglas acknowledged the disease could seriously harm the pork industry, but says farmers can still control the spread of the virus.

"Throughout the last five years, the pork industry has implemented all sorts of bio-security education," said Douglas. "While it's a concern, and the reality has changed, there are certainly lots of opportunities for producers to protect themselves at the farm gate."

Amy Cronin, chair of Ontario Pork, said that if the virus spreads, within one year it could cost the Canadian pork industry $45 million in lost revenues.

"This is an emotional time for (the producers). It's difficult to have piglets on the farm dying, when that's you [investing] your time and energy every day," said Cronin.

In a release, Premier and Minister of Agriculture Kathleen Wynne praised farmers for their resilience, saying "pork remains a safe choice for consumers."

"Ontario farmers always roll up their sleeves and find ways to overcome obstacles, be it fluctuations in weather, or a disease like PED."

For farmers wondering about their livelihoods, Wynne added: "Our government is here to help."

PED spreads to at least one more farm, hundreds of piglets dead at first site

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