The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received Follow-up Report No.1 from Irish veterinary authorities on 16 October.
The outbreak was reported to have occurred at a pig farm in Kilmore in County Cavan.
According to the report, the outbreak started with an infected farm worker. Two people involved in the sampling of the pigs of the index outbreak developed influenza-like illness two days after carrying out the sampling. Both have since been confirmed positive for pandemic influenza H1N1 2009. There have been no further pigs affected in this herd. This outbreak has now been resolved.
In the second outbreak, mild respiratory signs were seen in sows, unweaned piglets and fattening pigs. Samples from a single fattening pig that died on 29 September 2009 were submitted to a laboratory in Northern Ireland for routine respiratory disease surveillance. This animal was positive for influenza A/H1N1 2009 and also had concurrent infection with Streptococcus suis. Partial gene sequencing showed 99 to 100 per cent similarity with H1N1 pandemic viruses and 80 to 84 per cent with endemic European swine H1N1 viruses. One worker had mild viral respiratory illness that preceded clinical signs in the pigs. There are currently no clinical signs in this herd. There is no link between this outbreak and the first outbreak reported.
Given the extent of human infection with this virus, it is likely that further outbreaks of mild respiratory disease in pigs will occur. No further outbreaks will be reported unless there is a significant change in the epidemiology of the disease.
Further Reading
19 October 2009
3 minute read
