Pig Farm Quarantined

Caption: Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Avinash Singh

By Chantalé Fletcher

A pig farm in South Trinidad has been quarantined.

“No live pig movements and no products is currently moving off that farm.”

This according to Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Avinash Singh in answer to an Urgent Question by Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram in the House of Representatives on Friday. 

Singh was responding to a question on behalf of Minister Kazim Hosein to outline the specific measures taken to prevent the spread of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).

Singh highlighted PRRS is a widespread viral disease that affects pigs that was first recognised in the United States in 1987. 

Its symptoms included reproductive failure, pneumonia and increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection. Multiple strains of the virus with considerable variation in virulence explain the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations of the disease.

He added that PRRS was classified as a notifiable pest under the Animal Disease Importation Health and Welfare Act, Schedule 1 and was primarily transmitted through the movement of infected animals. 

Singh said, “Piglets of infected dams may not show symptoms but can still shed the virus through faeces , urine and semen. Fomite transmission via vehicles or supplies is also possible. However, the public is advised that there is no evidence to suggest  human infection with the  PRRS virus.”

He said a public statement was issued on June 7 detailing the outbreak situation on the southern farm.

In terms of the specific measures taken to prevent the spread of PRRS, he said Sanitech was deployed to assist as well.

However, as he continued to further discuss the measures,  Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bridgid Annisette-George stopped Singh as he exceeded his question time under standing order 27 had expired.