Issues Alert - Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
Preliminary diagnosis H1N1 found in a NSW piggery

• A preliminary diagnosis H1N1 has been found 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 Australia’s policy to contain the spread of the disease under the
  Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement.
• 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/H1N1 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 preliminary diagnosis of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 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 Australia - http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/
• Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer - http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-planthealth/
  animal

Key APL Contacts:
General H1N1 Inquiries Kathleen Plowman 0402 794 901
Media Inquiries Emily Mackintosh
0418 697 595