Re: Analysis of the risk of introduction and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus through importation of raw pigmeat into New Zealand

Authors: O'Neil BD
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 56, Issue 1, pp 48, Feb 2008
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Pig, Production animal
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Disease transmission, Epidemiology, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Evidence/information based methods, Syndrome, Respiratory system, Reproduction, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Reproduction - female, Risk assessment/factors, Viral
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In the paper by EJ Neumann, RS Morris and M Sujau published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal 55, 326–336, 2007, entitled, “Analysis of the risk of introduction and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus through importation of raw pigmeat into New Zealand”, the authors sought to analyse the risk of the introduction and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus through importation of raw pigmeat. As cautioned by the International Committee of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), any epidemiological model ultimately depends for its validity on the accuracy and completeness of the data underpinning it.
The PRRS model presented by these authors omitted consideration of losses in infectivity during storage and shipping; PRRS is a fragile virus. The European Food Safety Authority estimates that normal processing (bleeding, chilling, freezing and thawing) would reduce the level of virus by 2–4 logs. Nor did the model take into account loss of infectivity following purchase by the consumer.
Further, many of the inputs to this model relied on …continued

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