AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2009
NSW: Swine flu contained at Dunedoo, pigs' health improving
SYDNEY, Aug 3 AAP - The health of pigs diagnosed with swine flu in NSW is improving
and none are likely to die, the NSW Department of Primary Industries says.
The disease has not spread outside the 2,000 animal piggery in Dunedoo, in central
NSW, following the outbreak last week.
It was quarantined on Friday after laboratory tests confirmed several pigs had caught the virus.
State, territory and federal representatives from Australia's health and agriculture
sectors will discuss the outbreak via teleconference on Monday afternoon.
It is expected they will endorse a plan to further manage and contain the disease.
A NSW Department of Primary Industries spokesman would not disclose what the plan entailed,
but said there were no radically new measures proposed.
"Our on-site disease experts are reporting that animals - the first to be infected
- are now recovering. This is good news," NSW acting chief veterinary officer Dr Ian Roth
said in a statement.
"We expect all the pigs to make a full recovery.
"There is no evidence to suggest the disease has spread into other pig herds. The property
is in an isolated area."
Dr Roth said the infected pigs, which remain under close observation, had dry coughs
but were "strong" and not off their food.
He praised the owners of the property for quickly alerting authorities to signs of
ill health among the pigs.
None of the Dunedoo animals have entered the food chain.
The A H1 strain of flu diagnosed at the piggery, which was quarantined by the NSW Department
of Industry, is slightly different to the H1N1 variation diagnosed in humans.
It is believed workers at the piggery may have transmitted the disease to the animals.
Dr Roth said it was safe for people to eat pork and only healthy animals entered the
food chain in Australia.
AAP mg/evt/jfm/mn
KEYWORD: FLU PIGGERY DPI
2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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