NSW pig and livestock owners are urged to be alert for signs of Japanese encephalitis in their animals, following the detection of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in samples from multiple commercial piggeries.
NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Sarah Britton said JEV does not present a food safety risk and all Australian grown pork remains safe to eat, however the virus does cause reproductive failures in pigs.
“DPI’s State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness have confirmed the presence of the virus in samples submitted from farms at which animals showed symptoms last week,” she said.
“To date, the virus has been confirmed in samples from six properties in Western and Southern NSW, as well as at one Victorian property and one Queensland property through tests by those state agencies.”
The virus commonly circulates in mosquito populations in areas where it is endemic and can be transmitted to people and animals through the bites of infected insects, but is not transmitted from person to person or from animal to animal.
Horses and other livestock can also be infected through mosquito bites and NSW Health has issued advice to people in areas with high mosquito numbers to take extra precautions against being bitten.
“NSW DPI has initiated an Incident Management Team to lead an emergency response, in conjunction with other states and territories, and is working closely with NSW Health to minimise effects on industry and the community,” Dr Britton said.
Livestock owners are encouraged to be alert to the signs of JE. These include reproductive failure in pigs, with 50–70% losses reported in affected populations:
Pregnant sows and gilts may abort, produce mummified or malformed foetuses, or give birth to stillborn or weak piglets at term,
Infertility in boars – this is most commonly temporary but may be permanent if the boar is severely affected.
Nervous signs such as tremors and convulsions are occasionally seen in pigs up to 6 months of age.
If you suspect JE in pigs or other livestock, you must report it to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
