August 1, 2009
Issues Alert - Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
Preliminary diagnosis INFLUENZA A found in a NSW piggery
·
A diagnosis of
Influenza A has been confirmed in pigs at a piggery in NSW. Workers at the piggery have shown signs of possibly
having had influenza.
·
The farm has
been quarantined, and movement controls (facilities, equipment and feed) have
been instituted for pig premises around the affected piggery. This in accordance with
·
Conditional upon further tests, this would
be is the first time the virus has been diagnosed in the Australian pig herd.
·
NSW DPI is managing the situation and
Australian Pork Limited is working closely with the NSW CVO, the office of the
Australian Chief Veterinarian and the farm in question.
·
With Influenza A confirmed in one
Australian piggery, stringent biosecurity on-farm remains critical! APL recommends that visitors to a piggery
should be discouraged. Piggery
employees, especially those in close contact with the animals, should notify
their manager or leading hand if any members of their family or any people they
have frequent contact with are exhibiting flu or flu-like symptoms.
·
Both national and international food
authorities firmly state that pork is safe to eat. It is impossible to contract Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 from eating pork
and pork related products. There is no
connection between pork products and this disease.
·
APL has been liaising with the Australian
Chief Veterinary Officer, who has
progressed our request with the relevant health authorities to put pig farmers and workers (including vets) at the top of a list to be vaccinated
when a vaccine becomes available (likely to be August).
GREATER
VILGILANCE: STRINGENT ON-FARM BIOSECURITY!
With a diagnosis of
Influenza A found on an
Australian piggery, it is critical that pork producers are vigilant with
biosecurity to protect against disease incursion. APL is recommending that all
farms:
1.
Establish, implement and enforce strict sick leave policies for workers
presenting influenza-like symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches, and
sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
·
Prevent anyone
working with the pigs exhibiting these symptoms from coming to work for 7-10
days after presenting symptoms of respiratory illness, even mild ones.
·
Recommend that
people with these symptoms be seen by a doctor immediately
·
Sick farm
workers or family members should inform their doctor of their contact with pigs
to obtain a medical certificate
·
Any person not
able to get a medical certificate in these circumstances should contact their
local public health unit
·
Encourage all
farm workers especially those in close contact with the animals to notify the
owner if any members of their family or any people they have frequent contact
with are exhibiting flu or flu-like symptoms. Consider restricting the contact
that this worker has with the animals.
2.
Limit visitors to farms
·
Conduct a risk assessment of anyone coming
into contact with your herd and implement mitigation measures for any risks
that are considered too high.
·
Maintain a register which visitors have to
sign indicating that:
°
they have showered and changed clothes
since their last exposure to pigs;
°
they have not returned from overseas travel
within the last 7-10 days;
°
they are not experiencing fever or any
flu-like symptoms.
·
Unnecessary visitors that will have contact
with your pigs should be discouraged. If this is not possible ensure that the
visitor register (including name, address, phone number) is filled out, they
shower in or at least wash their hands & scrub fingernails.
3.
Follow other generally accepted biosecurity practices
·
Routinely clean clothing and footwear
·
Implement and enforce the
use of personal protective equipment
·
Control entry to the farm
·
Implement a policy which does not permit
staff to own or work with other pigs
·
Specify to staff that they must not come to
work if they have a fever or are ill
·
Maintain a visitor register which visitors
have to sign indicating that:
°
they have showered and changed clothes
since their last exposure to pigs;
°
they have not returned from overseas travel
within the last 7-10 days;
°
they are not experiencing fever or any
flu-like symptoms.
·
Keeping non-farm vehicles outside of farm
or at least their drivers inside their vehicles
·
Recommend that
all workers are vaccinated against the seasonal influenza virus.
·
Assess the health of any pigs
coming onto the property, utilise quarantine principles and prevent those
assessed as a high risk from entering.
·
Regularly inspect your herd for
unusual signs of disease and report any problems to your veterinarian, state or
territory government animal health officer or the Emergency Animal Disease
Watch Hotline - 1800 675 888.
· See APL’s Enhanced
Biosecurity Arrangements for Producers Alert available from APL website http://www.australianpork.com.au/pages/page140.asp
· See APL’s Enhanced
Biosecurity Arrangements for Farm Visitors and Employees: http://www.australianpork.com.au/pages/page140.asp
· APL’s website provides alert messages and
useful links http://www.australianpork.com.au/pages/page140.asp
Other contacts
·
H1N1 09 Hotline: 1802007 – For the general public with health concerns.
·
Emergency Animal Disease Watch hotline - Producers are encouraged to check their
properties regularly and if they see anything unusual to call 1800 675 888.
Other information
·
APL website – http://www.australianpork.com.au/pages/page140.asp - For more
information and updates on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
·
Animal Health
·
Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer - http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/animal
Key
APL Contacts:
|
General H1N1 Inquiries |
Kathleen
Plowman |
0402 794 901 |
|
Media Inquiries |
Emily
Mackintosh |
0418 697 595 |