The UK pig industry has said it is determined to maintain the current ‘very low’ levels of risk from Livestock Associated-MRSA (LA-MRSA) in pigs, after Countryfile looked at the issue in Denmark.
A recent BBC Countryfile programme looked at the problem of LA-MRSA in Denmark, where about 88% of pig farms are believed to be infected with the antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as MRSA CC398.
The feature described the situation in Denmark as a ‘public health scandal’.
Presenter Tom Heap acknowledged that for most people the bug poses ‘very little risk’, with people working pigs ‘at the highest risk’. He also stressed that although the bug is found on meat, it is killed by proper cooking.
A microbiologist working in Denmark told Mr Heap that, while in most cases of infection ‘nothing really happens’, a minority of patients may get life-threatening infections. There is ‘clear evidence’ seven patients have died of MRSA CC398, he said.
The feature linked the spread of the bug to overuse of antibiotics in Denmark and highlighted calls to significantly reduce usage.
It turned the spotlight on the UK, where LA-MRSA has only been confirmed in a small number of pigs. But with nearly 700 live pigs imported from Denmark last year and no compulsory testing in either Denmark or the UK, Mr Heap said addressing the problem was ‘in our interests, too’.
'Public should not be worried'
National Pig Association (NPA) chief executive Zoe Davies said the public should not be worried.
“LA-MRSA has not been deemed high risk by the government, and is not the same as hospital associated MRSA, so the public should not be worried. Hospital surveillance has picked up very few cases and none that are associated with people working directly with livestock.
“In addition, the recent Food Standards Agency MRSA risk assessment confirmed, there has never been a single case documented of LA-MRSA being contracted by anyone eating meat products from anywhere in the world.
"I also want to stress that the link made between antibiotic usage on farms and the prevalance of bugs like LA-MRSA is not as simplistic as is made out in features like this. For example, Denmark has already significantly reduced antibiotic usage but LA-MSRA levels remain high.
“However, we know LA-MRSA is here in the UK and, as a proactive industry we have worked with government to provide guidance for those working with pigs to reduce risk even further.”
