British Election & MRSA in pigs

For the first time, MRSA is being seriously aired in the UK General Election Campaign by Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party - UKIP at the debate on TV last night.

It was not a particularly interesting or incisive comment, and aimed against the Labour Party, but it is an issue that could explode, especially if Farage takes a more serious interest.

We all know that some of the central issues for this election include the NHS, UK membership of the EU, and Scotland leaving the UK.

Farage stands directly opposite the Scottish National Party on pretty well all issues, with both leaders undeniably personally popular and both likely to be influential whatever the exact result.

Scotland is one of the very few countries in the world supposed to be free of MRSA in its pigs.

Nobody believes them. If they were free of MRSA, they would be shouting it from the rooftops as a triumph for Scottish science. That is undeniable. They also have a very poor record on other zoonotic public health issues.

If UKIP decide to raise the issue, and the implications for the rest of the UK, it is going to be very hard for the Scottish Nationalists to handle.

They won't be able to say with any credibility "We haven't found any MRSA in our pigs." and be taken seriously after the election.

Watch this space.