Certain highly contagious animal diseases are absent in Canadian pig farms, which explains why they are referred to as foreign animal diseases (FADs); however, these diseases are present in numerous countries and thus constitute a continued threat to swine production in Canada. An outbreak of one of these diseases would cause serious
damage to the welfare of animals, industry vitality and our global trade presence. Early detection is paramount as it can help prevent outbreaks, control spread and limit devastating economic consequences for the entire swine sector.