November 14, 2005

Australia declared free of pig wasting disease PMWS

Australia has been declared free of pig wasting disease called post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), after a suspected case of the incurable disease in South Australia was cleared, South Australian chief veterinary officer Robin Vandergraff said on Nov 11.

Australia is now the only remaining major pork-producing country not to have had an outbreak of PMWS.

The suspected case of PMWS in South Australia was one of two detected in early July, while the other New South Wales case was dismissed soon afterwards.

National industry group Australian Pork Limited said the result is good news for the country's 2,000 pig farmers.