PMWS Suspected in Australia

July 6, 2005 — Harry Snelson
  [ES]

A spokesperson at the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC confirmed today that the Australian Department of Agriculture is investigating their first case of PMWS. It involves 2 piggeries some distance apart (one in New South Wales and the other in South Australia) with no known association between the farms. The disease has not yet been confirmed but the investigation is on-going. An article in The Australian newspaper indicated that the investigation should be completed by early next week although no date was given for final laboratory confirmation. No additional information was available regarding clinical signs or mortality rates. PCV2, the virus most commonly associated with PMWS, is known to be present in Australia although the clinical syndrome has not been reported. Biosecurity Australia has informed OIE of their findings.

Sources: Personal communications; The Australian, July 6, 2005