Australia Urges Pork Producers to Protect Pigs from Mosquitoes

Pig and horse owners in Australia are urged to protect their animals from mosquito-borne illnesses this summer after recent heavy rain and flooding. Victoria's Chief Veterinary Officer Graeme Cooke said bite prevention and mosquito control are key to keeping animals free from mosquito-borne diseases including Japanese encephalitis, Ross River fever, Murray Valley encephalitis and West Nile virus (Kunjin strain).

"It is reasonable to anticipate that JE may again affect livestock in Victoria, however there have been no reported animal cases in Victoria since pig cases were seen last summer," Cooke said.

The most common signs of Japanese encephalitis in pigs are mummified and stillborn or weak piglets, some with neurological signs. Very young piglets may exhibit signs of central nervous system disease, however, the majority of pigs appear unaffected.

Japanese encephalitis virus is not spread directly from pigs to people, and there is no risk to humans from eating pig meat.

Horses may show no signs of illness from arbovirus infections, but these diseases can present with fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, lethargy, neurological or musculoskeletal signs such as staggering, incoordination, weakness and depression.

Hendra virus infection must always be ruled out in cases of neurological disease in horses. Hendra and West Nile virus clinical disease can have human health implications so it is important to report suspect cases and get an accurate diagnosis to ensure the appropriate response.

Horse owners can protect their animals by rugging and hooding them to prevent bites and stabling them between dusk and dawn, as the mosquito most likely to carry diseases of concern is a night-time feeder that stays outdoors.