Swine Vesicular Disease

If notifiable disease is suspected, contact DAERA on 0300 200 7840 or your local DAERA Direct Regional Office. Failure to do so is an offence

Clinical Signs

The main sign of the disease is blisters (vesicles). These appear:

• at the top of the hooves
• between the toes
• occasionally on the snout, tongue and lips

Other signs include:

• lameness due to foot blisters
• loss of appetite
• fever

Some infected pigs may not show any signs of the disease.

How is the disease transmitted?

The disease can be spread when pigs:

• come into contact with infected pigs or their faeces or body fluids
• eat infectious meat or meat products
• come into contact with anything contaminated with the virus including people and their clothing, vehicles and equipment

Prevention

Good biosecurity is essential to the prevention of introduction of Swine Vesicular Disease into Northern Ireland.

Biosecurity measures that farmers can take

• maintain strict biosecurity
• only allow essential visitors to enter your farm, and insist that they wear clean or disposable clothing and footwear, and wash their hands (or shower in if possible)
• only allow vehicles and equipment on to the farm if they have been cleaned and disinfected beforehand
• do not allow people who may have been in contact with other pigs on to your farm
• do not allow staff and visitors to bring pork products on to the farm
• do not allow catering waste / scraps to be fed to pigs - dispose of it safely
• only source pigs and semen of known health status

Biosecurity Information

If you keep pigs, you have an important role in preventing further disease outbreaks, it is essential that pig holders maintain effective biosecurity all year round.

The Department has a Pig Text Alert Service for all pig keepers to receive immediate notifications of disease outbreaks or other important disease information.

Do not feed pigs food waste

The feeding of any food waste of animal origin or food waste which has been in contact with products of animal origin, whether raw or cooked, is illegal in the UK. This is because there is a risk of spreading disease.

Food waste includes

• kitchen waste or scraps, such as leftovers from meals
• raw, partially or fully cooked meat
• meat that’s been cured, dried, smoked or frozen
• fish, including shellfish
• dog and cat food

You should dispose of food waste and any packaging in secure bins and you should not take meat or meat products into areas where pigs are kept.

Personal Imports

Everyone has a role to play in keeping Swine Vesicular Disease out of NI and preventing the virus spreading, by not bringing illegal food products into NI. Please find Information on Personal Food Imports  or if you are thinking of bringing meat or food into NI.

It is illegal to bring personal meat or dairy products into NI from non-EU countries. Products will be seized and destroyed on arrival. You may be fined.

Anyone suspecting Swine Vesicular Disease must immediately inform their DAERA Direct Regional Office.

 

More useful information:

Swine Vesicular Disease - WOAH