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Saturday 20 December 2014

Denmark - Pig launches MRSA strategy


For the avoidance of doubt, we reproduce this press release without any endorsement.

Britain's veterinary establishment and Britain's pig farmers will draw their own conclusions.

Britain, aside from Northern Ireland very recently, do not, according to Maff-Defra, the Ministry of Agriculture, have MRSA cc398 in the pigs.

We know they have an ever growing credibility problem of global proportions and suggest that they will be called to account before the international courts for crimes against humanity.

Press Release here.



Pig launches MRSA strategy

Significantly less antibiotics in swine barns, research and a major international conference. It is the content of a three-step plan as Pig Research Centre has just been launched to stop the spread of MRSA CC398.

PRESS RELEASE - December 20 2014


The proportion of pig farms MRSA-positive, has grown significantly in recent years.Studies indicate that up to 70 percent of the Danish pig farms resistant staphylococci in the barn doors. Now, Pig Research Centre (PRC) Agriculture & Food gathering knowledge and reduce
antibiotic consumption:

"We have in the Danish pig production reduced antibiotic consumption by ten percent since 2010. Although it will be a challenge, so we will reduce consumption by further ten percent by 2020. We have two months ago decided that in the course of the next year halve the use of the drug tetracycline, and this plan is a response to this significant operations ", says the CEO of VSP Claus Fertin.

Denmark is already among the countries in the world with the lowest consumption of antibiotics produced per kilogram of meat. With the new initiatives from VSP Denmark puts even greater distance to competitors abroad.

"We can not eliminate MRSA by reducing the consumption of antibiotics, but we can already take responsibility for our future resistance problems and hopefully on the way to help show the way for other countries with a significantly higher consumption than Denmark," says Claus Fertin.

Sharing knowledge across borders 

In Denmark, approximately two percent of the staphilococci resistant to the most common antibiotics. In southern Europe, in several countries 25 percent and in many places in Asia and elsewhere, the figure is significantly higher. Common to countries' challenges with MRSA bacteria is that no one has a definitive answer on how to stop the spread of resistant bacteria. Therefore, VSP during spring invite to a major international conference, where researchers, doctors, veterinarians and other relevant capabilities to exchange experience and hopefully find new inspiration to fight resistant bacteria. Not just in pig production but throughout society.

"There is no one who would rather get these bacteria to life than Danish pig producers. But we do not solve the problems alone in Denmark. Therefore, the international perspective is crucial for success. Here I would like to encourage our food minister to press the European Union to speed resistance issues on the agenda.Also in the countries where resistant bacteria are not high on the political agenda, "says Claus Fertin.

Millions for research

Pig Levy Fund, administered by the Agriculture and Food, has just granted 2.4 million kroner to three specific research projects. This shall include examine how widespread MRSA CC398 is among other groups of animals like horses and veal calves. This has not previously been studied in Denmark and may have implications for breaking the routes of infection from pig production to the rest of society. Another project to study the spread of infection from pig production through people into the country's hospitals and thus minimize this risk.

"In general, we lack knowledge about MRSA CC398, and we must of course provide so that we can put the right effort in time instead of making decisions that are not based on a scientific basis. We will not MRSA to life with a snap, and actually I do not believe that MRSA can be eradicated in Denmark, as long as we live in a world where animals, people and goods cross many borders. But we must do what is possible to isolate MRSA CC398 for pig production and of course reduce the incidence, "says director of VSP Claus Fertin.

MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. A special variety of these bacteria called CC398 and occurs among other swine. The staphylococci can be treated, but it is necessary to use other preparations than the most common forms of antibiotics. Over the past two years, more than 700 Danes died of general staphylococcal infections. In the same period, five died of MRSA CC398.

Read more about MRSA CC398

Further information and opinions with Claus Fertin, director of the Pig Research via press consultant Jens Munk Dissing, phone .....