There are now 14 confirmed cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in Ontario – but officials say they’re learning more about what may have brought the virus into the province and how it can be stopped.

PED was first confirmed in Canada nearly a month ago, on a farm in Middlesex County.

Since then, it has been found at other swine farms across the province, including in Norfolk County and Chatham-Kent, and spread to Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.

The cause of the virus – which has killed millions of piglets in the United States – remains unknown, but researchers at Kansas State University say there may be a link between the spread of the virus and the feed used for baby pigs.

As a result, feed producer Cambridge-based Grand Valley Fortifier has stopped producing or selling any feed that contains animal byproducts.

The company has also recalled any feeds that contain the byproducts.

“We are calling on other industry leaders to respond to the Kansas State recommendation and remove porcine byproducts from their swine feeds immediately so that together we can mitigate the risk of the spread of this virus in Canada,” the company says in a press release.

Martin Misener, a Stratford-based swine veterinarian, says the quick reaction of Grand Valley Fortifier deserves “high marks” as likely helping prevent further feed contamination.

“It’s not the problem that it was a week ago,” he says.

Officials believe more Ontario cases of PED will likely be confirmed this week – but not many, and the number of new cases may continue to fall.

“Having 14 cases is not great, but it’s also a good news story. It’s not spreading like wildfire,” says Amy Cronin, chair of the Ontario Pork Council.

Despite the optimism, thoughts of those in the industry turn quickly to affected farmers – some of whom may have done everything by the book and still had seen their piglets infected by the fast-moving disease.

“The first reaction … was probably panic, lots of producers concerned about what could happen if it gets into their barn,” says Misener.

“You feel helpless. You can’t give (your piglets) something that’s going to make them better. There’s no way around that.”

There is no concern of porcine epidemic diarrhea affecting human health or the food supply.