§ Mr. Skeetasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Governments in the European Economic Community contribute funds to the eradication of Aujeszky's disease in their countries; and if he will indicate in each case the method of support.
§ Mrs. FennerI understand that Denmark has initiated a scheme providing for the slaughter of infected animals and reactors with compensation from a fund raised by a producer levy operated by Danish slaugherhouses.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes publishing the report of the Committee of the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, concerned with Aujeszky's disease; and how long it remains in the lymphatic system of the carcase.
§ Mrs. FennerAs regards publication of the report, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 16 July, at column 67.
A paper by members of the AVRI published in the Veterinary Record of 19 November 1983 showed that AD virus could be detected for up to 40 days in the lymph nodes taken from pigs killed at the acute stage of the disease and stored at -20 C. However, I should confirm that clinically healthy pigs slaughtered in licensed slaugherhouses present virtually no risk of spreading the disease.