Since the original notification, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) has taken action against PED, which affects only pigs. Initial diagnostic tests and preliminary epidemiological investigation indicate that the disease is contained in the departments of Huila and Cundinamarca in central Colombia.

Studies show that it is a form of acute presentation of a disease that has so far killed pigs and presents with clinical signs such as vomiting, dehydration, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, anorexia, depression and watery white or off-white intestinal contents. It affects particulalry young piglets and can produce mortality between 50 and 80 per cent.

It is noteworthy that this illness is not zoonotic, i.e. it is not transmitted to humans.

Transmission occurs through contaminated faeces. The most common sources of infection are the faeces of infected pigs trucks, boots, clothing or other objects.

The ICA has ordered quarantine of the affected premises, followed by cleansing and disinfection.

Epidemiological surveillance and monitoring are continuing in both of the affected municipalities and neighboring areas.

ICA's CEO, Luis Humberto Martínez Lacouture, said that his organisation has visited farms located in the municipalities of La Mesa, Fusagasugá, Granada, Sylvania, La Calera, Tibacuy and Choachí in Cundinamarca as well as Neiva, Tello, Guadalupe and Villa Vieja in Huila. First indications are that the PED infection has been contained.

ICA's work will continue, even over the Easter holidays, he added.

He called on pig farmers to be vigilant for signs of the disease in Huila, Cundinamarca and other departments and to report immediately to the ICA any suspected cases of the disease. He also advised farmers not to acquire pigs of unknown origin and to report smuggling of pigs, as these may contribute to disease dissemination as well as to implement immediately basic measures for cleaning, disinfection and biosecurity on pig farms.