Disease alert as pigs die from virus

While Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea virus has been present in this country in a mild form for over 40 years, new strains have spread from China to the USA.

The latest is so virulent it has been wiping out entire generations of newly-born pigs – and there is no effective treatment.

The NPA said it “essential” the latest strains are kept out of the UK.

It said only absolutely essential visitors from overseas should be allowed onto pig farms and they must have entered the UK at least three days before the visit.

It recommended only unit clothing and footwear should be worn near pigs and added that anyone returning from overseas should allow three days before considering themselves “pig-free”.

NPA says that as a matter of principle no meat products should ever be allowed onto pig units, because of their potential to introduce serious diseases such as foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, African swine fever, and perhaps the new virulent strains of porcine epidemic diarrhoea.

A spokesman said: “The NPA is asking all pig-keepers – including hobby farmers – to run a critical eye over all their current biosecurity measures and see where they can be improved.”

And it is urging genetics companies to think carefully before importing live pigs from the US for the time being, regardless of the high level of biosecurity usually attached to such shipments.

If the new acute strains of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus spread to the UK they could have an impact every bit as bad as PMWS (postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome) which arrived in Britain from mainland Europe about 13 years ago and halved the national herd, only coming under control in recent years, here and around the world, following the introduction of highly-effective vaccines.

The current outbreak in the US, which is still spreading, is causing losses of up to 100 percent of affected piglets and has been reported on over 200 units in 13 states since May.