The National Management Group (NMG) overseeing the response to an Influenza A H1N1 infection in a 2000 head pig herd in central west NSW this afternoon supported a plan by NSW to eradicate the virus from the property.

"Under the plan, pigs will not move from the property until they have returned to full health and are completely free of clinical signs of the flu," acting chief veterinary officer, Dr Ian Roth, said today.

"We will now continue to monitor the health of the pigs and once sure that they are no longer suffering the flu and that they have recovered fully for seven days the quarantine measures will be reconsidered."

Key points of the NSW Influenza A H1N1 plan for the central west property:

• The property remains in quarantine lockdown;
• Only healthy pigs will leave the property for slaughter following stringent protocols and veterinary inspections;
• The herd’s welfare will continue to be monitored closely by disease experts; and
• Stringent biosecurity measures will be upheld.

Dr Roth said the plan is not dissimilar to those applied in other countries like Canada where Influenza A H1N1 has been detected in pig herds.

"Our approach is based on the best available information and we have gleaned some of that from the international experience," he said.

"Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) staff continue to work closely with the NSW Department of Industry and Investment."

NMG is comprised of the Chief Executive Officers of the Commonwealth and state/territory departments of agriculture/primary industries across Australia and also the CEO of Australian Pork Limited, the peak body representing the pig industry. It is chaired by the Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

More information

Influenza A H1N1 2009 ('Human Swine Flu')

Media contact: Brett Fifield 0427 029 511 or Tom Braz 0428 256 596