Study reveals factors in spread of pig disease

Poor farm biosecurity helped in the spread of pig wasting disease PMWS, a new study has claimed.

The British Pig Executive-funded research, carried out by the University of Warwick, found that it took just three years for the disease to become endemic in the UK pig herd after it was first identified in south-east England in 2000.

It spread slowly north and, by 2003, the first cases were identified in Scotland.

Factors associated with farms that broke down early in the epidemic were more than 600 sows and bringing in gilts.

During the foot-and-mouth epidemic of 2001, when most animal movements stopped, farms that broke down were more likely to be located near a grower unit and allowed visitors on to their farm who had not been pig-free for three days.

After foot-and-mouth, herd size and proximity to other pig farms were associated with the introduction of PMWS on to units.

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Source: North Scotland

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