March 24, 2014

UK intensifies biosecurity measures against ASF

From an abattoir in the South of England, samples from the carcases of two slaughter pigs are being tested at the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) Weybridge for swine fever, with results to be available after 24 hours and restrictions have been placed on premises in Aberdeenshire.

This is the second swine fever alert in the past six months and it emphasises the importance of continued vigilance by producers and abattoirs.

It has urged those involved in the industry to review biosecurity as the first line of defence against devastating diseases.

It also said that an outbreak of a notifiable disease would have serious consequences for the export industry which is now worth more than £300 million (US$495 million) a year.

African swine fever (ASF), which is harmless to humans but fatal to pigs, is a notifiable disease and has advanced into Lithuania and there are fears it could be carried further into the European Union by infected wild boar.

The National Pig Association (NPA) has already urged tighter security at border posts to prevent contaminated meat being carried illegally into the country.

Britain has a fast-growing pork export market with China and other non-EU countries.

The disease, which can survive for months in raw, cured, cooked and even frozen meat, has advanced from Russia and Belarus.

If it arrives in this country it has the potential to seriously damage the nation's pig industry, those involved in the sector have warned.