(Factsheet) 75-2 (Factsheet) 74-1 (Factsheet) 82-2 (Factsheet) 81-1 (Factsheet) 79-2

Swine Influenza

Last reviewed August 2009

Australian situation

For information regarding the current outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in one piggery in New South Wales please click on this link: www.outbreak.gov.au.

For general information on managing animal health in Australia, please consult the latest edition of 'Animal Health in Australia'.

For further information on this disease go to the Pests and Diseases page of the Farm Biosecurity web site http://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au. Farm Biosecurity aims to provide simple measures livestock producers can implement as part of their day to day operations.

This disease is nationally notifiable in Australia. Please consult the National Notifiable Disease List for further information.

Disease summary

Swine influenza can cause epidemics of acute respiratory disease in pigs, with high morbidity but low mortality. It can also persist in endemic situations. Strains of swine influenza virus can also be directly transmissible to humans.

Epidemics of swine influenza occur fairly regularly each winter in North America, particularly the Midwestern States, and in Europe. Outbreaks have also been reported in many other parts of the world, including South Africa, Kenya, India, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South America. In July 2009, pandemic (H1N1) 2009 occurred in pigs at an isolated commercial piggery in central west NSW and this is the first recorded occurrence of any form of influenza in pigs in Australia. A management plan has been implemented to eradicate the disease in this piggery. There is no evidence of influenza being present in any other pig herd in Australia.

The OIE website provides a link to a ‘Disease Card’ providing further information.