March 26, 2007

Belgium to begin MRSA research
 

Belgium will start its own research on Methicilline Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA, a highly infectious bacterium that is found in pigs and is also believed to affect humans. 

The research will be carried out by the Belgian Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries (ILVO).

Also called the "hospital bacteria", MRSA deemed to be harmless to healthy people, but can seriously affect the health of ill people. In the Netherlands, research last year showed the bacteria was also discovered in pig farmers.

Belgium now would like to find out to what extent Belgian farms will be infected too - the research will start in April, Flemish prime minister Yves Leterme said.

On the research, pigs, people, other animals, surroundings, personnel and family where the prevalence of bacteria has been confirmed will be examined. This way, researchers hope to establish how a contamination is spreading - and thus they hope how to stop it.

A bigger research will follow in autumn which will be organised along with the Flemish ministry of welfare, public health and family.