Swine fever fears mount

Swine fever is deadly to pigs and highly contagious

Pig farmers are awaiting test results to discover if an outbreak of swine fever has spread beyond confirmed cases at three farms in East Anglia.

Those three farms have been placed under restriction orders after farms in Norfolk, Essex and Suffolk were ordered to slaughter more than 6,000 pigs.

The original outbreak of the deadly disease, which is harmless to humans, has been traced to the Norfolk farm which supplied the pigs.

It is the first outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease in the UK for 14 years.

Three-kilometre protection zones have been placed around the three newly-identified farms.

Andrew Saunders, managing director of British Quality Pigs (BQP), which owns the affected Suffolk farm, said staff had become concerned on Friday about the health of some of the animals.

Highly infectious

Tests by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food confirmed that swine fever was to blame.

"Both BQP and Maff are now working closely together to investigate this outbreak and in particular to trace its source," he said.

James Black, vice-chairman of the National Pig Association, regards the disease's return as a terrible blow.

"We will do all we can to make sure all producers are kept informed of the latest developments, and to give the best advice we can in dealing with this situation," he said.

Under EU law pigs on farms affected with classic swine fever must be destroyed.

The disease can be transmitted directly from animal to animal and through feeding pigs waste food containing infected meat.

It can also be passed on by transporting pigs in contaminated vehicles.

Symptoms of swine fever in pigs are loss of appetite and high temperature.

The animals may also have red or purple areas of discoloration on the skin.