Australia Declared Free of Pig Wasting Disease

Australia declared free of pig wasting disease

CANBERRA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) — Australian agriculture authorities on Friday declared the country free of pig wasting disease after a suspected case of the incurable disease in South Australia was cleared.

Australia is now the only remaining significant pig producing country not to have had an outbreak of Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS).

The suspected case of PMWS in South Australia was one of two detected in early July. The other, in New South Wales, was dismissed soon afterwards.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio quoted South Australian chief veterinary officer Robin Vandergraff as saying that it is now safe to say that Australia is free of the disease.

“It’s a very good finding. It’s been a lot of work, it’s taken a lot of time and a lot of effort and considerable expense and it’ s a great relief to us all,” he said.

National industry group Australian Pork Limited said the result is good news for the nation’s 2,000 pig farmers.