BLUE-EARED PIG DISEASE (Hansard, 13 June 1991)

§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington):

Blue-eared pig disease has been diagnosed in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain and it appears that a similar condition has occurred in North America in recent years. Experience on the mainland of Europe is that the disease lasts for four to eight weeks in affected herds. The symptoms are by no means consistent only a few affected animals show blue ears, for example. The first signs may be high temperatures and pigs off their food. A mild influenza-like illness may be seen in all ages of pigs on the premises. Sometimes blue discolouration of extremities such as ears, teats, vulva and backs of legs occurs. A consistent feature of the disease is an increase in the level of abortions that would normally be expected and in still births in pregnant sows. Those piglets that survive show laboured breathing, diarrhoea and other symptoms and up to 40 per cent. or more may die within the first two weeks of life. Deaths among adult pigs are very low and infected sows normally recover.

Spread of disease has been associated mainly with the movement of breeding pigs but airborne spread may also occur. The Dutch Central Veterinary Institute announced recently that it had isolated a virus that causes the disease.

In the Community, the disease first occurred in Germany in November 1990, although it was not reported until 16th February. Since 1st March the Community rules on trade in pigs (which require that all pigs traded between member states should be subject to veterinary inspection and health certification) have been supplemented by additional measures and trade safeguards in response to the disease. These include a prohibition on the export to other member states of any pigs from infected holdings and of pigs for breeding or fattening from municipalities where disease is present or has recently occurred. In practice the United Kingdom does not import pigs from any of the infected countries.

Last year, the British Government took powers to restrict the movement of animals if a new disease condition was suspected under the Movement of Animals (Restriction) Order 1990 as amended. These 67WA powers enabled us to be quicker in our reactions to any disease threat than previously, and indeed quicker than other members of the European Community.

Suspicious symptoms were first reported to the Veterinary Investigation Service on 16th May. On investigation, the symptoms appeared significantly different from those found elsewhere in Europe, but nevertheless precautionary restrictions were imposed on the premises concerned on 20th May. To date, 12 premises have been placed under restriction for the same reason, all in the Humberside area apart from one in County Durham.

The restrictions that have been imposed since suspicious symptoms first appeared are more stringent than those required by Community rules for the control of blue-eared pig disease and more stringent than those imposed in the Community countries where the disease is established. All movements of pigs off premises where disease is suspected are subject to licence by a veterinary inspector. No such movements have so far been licensed except for movements direct to a slaughterhouse. If severe overcrowding were to occur on a suspect farm, growing pigs might have to be moved off. Such movements would be only to a non-breeding farm already situated in an infected area and not situated adjacent to a breeding unit, and the receiving farm would be placed under restriction as soon as the movement took place.

In addition, farms in the areas surrounding those where disease is suspected have been put under restriction too. In these areas licences have been issued allowing movement of pigs direct to a slaughterhouse. The movement of growing pigs to fattening units in Humberside has also been licensed subject to there being no breeding stock on the receiving premises, nor any breeding unit adjoining the receiving premises.

Yesterday evening (June 12th), a Dutch veterinary laboratory using the only known diagnostic test sent us results which showed that blue-eared pig disease had indeed spread to the UK. The very early action that we have taken under our existing range of measures has meant that we already have in place restrictions which are significantly tougher than those employed on the Continent. Now that we have a positive identification of the disease these measures will be made specific under the blue-eared pig disease order 1991, which has already been signed, and which came into force at 12.01 pm today. The new order will confirm measures we have already taken which enable movement restrictions to be imposed or maintained on infected premises and areas. In addition, the order:

enables movement restrictions to be imposed on premises which have received animals from premises where infection exists;

lays down requirements about the destruction of infected material;

lays down requirements about the cleansing and disinfection of premises.

Finally, the disease will now be notifiable, which clearly it could not have been until it was properly 68WA diagnosed by yesterday's results. As no test for the disease is generally available, and as a wide range of symptoms can occur, the Ministry will be publishing guidance to farmers and veterinary surgeons on the signs giving rise to suspicions.

All the steps we have taken were designed to limit the disease to the maximum extent possible. We have been in close touch with our Community partners who also have the disease, and they have co-operated fully with us. Even so, none of us has sufficient information to know fully how the disease is spread. We cannot guarantee therefore that any particular measure will be successful in preventing its communication. Nonetheless, it must be sensible to take those steps which are most likely to make a difference, and it would be irresponsible not to try to protect those areas of the country where it has not occurred, if at all possible.

It seems clear that one factor which does lead to the spread of disease is the movement of breeding pigs. Following discussion with the pig industry we therefore intend to use the powers under the new order to define a large restricted zone. This will not be easy for the industry in the parts of the country which will be covered, but in discussions today its representatives have made it clear that they support the Government's determination to prevent the spread of disease. This zone will embrace all the infected farms in Humberside, and a wide area around them bounded by a line running roughly from Cleethorpes through Lincoln, Doncaster, York and Scarborough. The movement of pigs out of this zone will be permitted only when going direct for slaughter. Pigs from farms where infection is not suspected or confirmed may however move freely within the zone.

As I have already indicated, it is by no means certain that this measure will succeed in curtailing the disease. Our policy will therefore need to be kept under close review, in discussion with the industry.

Blue-eared pig disease has important economic effects upon individual producers, but it is exclusively an animal health problem, and there are no implications for human health.