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This is the Norwegian Veterinary Institute - mechanical translation.
They are clearly not going to repeat the mistake the British State Veterinary Service made with circovirus in 1999, when they hid up a PMWS epidemic instead of making it notifiable.
Wise - the Norwegians too might have to carry on the deceit for more than a decade. (when first you set out to deceive!)
They are watching the next-door Danes no doubt, with increasing alarm too.
The Norwegians are not complacent about MRSA st398 and are aware that people (vets?) coming in from abroad could spread this to their pigs.
Report here
Stepping up surveillance of MRSA
Posted: 12/22/2010 10:42 Last modified: 22/12/2010 10:42
Veterinærinstituttet National Veterinary Institute
In many European countries have shown a high incidence of a type of multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA ST398, in livestock.
The incidence is particularly high in pigs. The bacteria has not been detected in Norwegian pigs, but now the surveillance be stepped up.
The animal adapted variant, MRSA ST398 has been detected in several European countries and especially in pigs. The incidence seems to be particularly high in pigs in Spain, Germany and Belgium. The bacterium has also been found in pigs in Finland, Denmark and Sweden. In Norway we have not found the bacteria in animals.
ST398 MRSA can be spread from animals to humans and represents a new zoonosis, ie a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans and from humans to animals.
Pig infection reservoir
Pet variant of MRSA is usually not a health problem for the animals and the risk of infection via food is considered very small. ? - Pigs can be carriers and spread the bacteria to other animals, swine producers, veterinarians and others who are in close contact with animals, "said Marianne Sunde, a researcher at the National Veterinary Institute. - In countries where MRSA ST398 is widespread in pigs, special precautions are taken when people who have close contact with pigs must be posted at health institutions. This is to avoid spreading the infection to the health institutions where it can result in serious infections.
New surveillance study of Norwegian pigs.
With the prevalence of MRSA ST398 has received in swine herds in many other countries, and the consequences it has had to spill over to humans, it is important to monitor the situation regularly in Norwegian pigs, "says Bjørn Lium, species responsible for swine at the National Veterinary Institute.
FSA will in 2011, in cooperation with the National Veterinary Institute, implement a new surveillance study of Norwegian pig herds. If MRSA ST398 first establishes itself in a swine population it is very difficult and perhaps impossible to get rid of. ? - Restrictive use of antibiotics and organized livestock trade are important measures to keep the Norwegian swine population is free of MRSA ST398 in the future, "said Lium. - It is also important to be aware that bacteria can be spread to pigs via the Norwegian people who have been in contact with domestic animals in countries where MRSA ST398 occur,"he adds.
Should be notifiable.
While the discovery of MRSA in humans is notifiable in Norway, there is no notification if it is found MRSA in animals. To maintain the good situation, it is important to have a good overview of the deposit. National Veterinary Institute, believes that MRSA should be notifiable even on animals.
