The Agriculture Ministry says local pork remains safe for human consumption.

This assurance follows the recent detection of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) at a pig farm in South Trinidad.

According to the Ministry, PRRS – also known as blue ear disease – affects domestic pigs and is characterized by reproductive failure, pneumonia, and increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections.

It adds however that PRRS is NOT a zoonotic disease and poses no threat to food safety and human health.

PRRS is classified as a notifiable disease under the Animal Diseases (Importation, Health, and Welfare) Act, Schedule 1, and is primarily transmitted through the movement of infected animals.

Piglets of infected dams may not show symptoms but can still shed the virus through faeces, urine, and semen.

Fomite transmission via vehicles or supplies is also possible.

Notwithstanding this, the Ministry says there is no evidence to suggest human infection with the PRRS virus.

It says after a confirmed positive laboratory test, a thorough investigation was launched, including sample collection and testing by a team of Veterinarians from the Animal Health and Production Division.

Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Lana Gyan also advised that on-site clinical investigations are ongoing and samples are actively being collected for a thorough epidemiological investigation.

The Ministry adds that surveillance in the surrounding areas is continuing as the infection source remains unidentified at this time.

As per the requirements of the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Ministry has reported the outbreak and also informed the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency.

The premises in question has also been quarantined, while the School of Veterinary Medicine and Sanitec, in collaboration with Regional Swine Medicine experts, have been engaged to provide technical and operational advice.

The Ministry is also advising pig farmers throughout the country to desist from feeding their pigs any pork products at this time, as the disease may spread to other pigs via infected pork.