PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Tuesday said that pork remains safe to eat after a pig farm tested positive for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). This contagious viral disease affects pigs.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) confirmed that more than 250 pigs will have to be culled and buried following the country’s first confirmed case of the PRRS.
The affected animals belong to a Wallerfield farmer, Brian Maturine, whose herd tested positive for the highly contagious swine disease on July 21. Last year, the disease was found on a farm in south Trinidad.
Pigs at a farm in Wallerfield
Wallerfield, east of here, is home to more than 40 pig farmers and is regarded as a key hub in the local pork industry.
In a letter to Maturine, the acting Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Lisa Musai, TT$700,000 (One TT dollar = 0.16 cents) would be destroyed as part of a containment strategy.
In a statement Tuesday, MALF reiterated that PRRS poses no risk to human health and that “pork remains safe for consumption and there is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted to people”.
It said that following confirmation of the disease, the ministry immediately activated its national emergency response plan aimed at containing the outbreak, supporting the affected farmers and safeguarding the long-term viability of the pork industry.
“Our team has been working diligently to contain the outbreak and support the affected farmer while ensuring the safety of the national pork supply. We are guided by science, international best practice, and a strong commitment to protecting both animal health and public confidence in the sector,” Dr. Musai said.
The MALF said that the planned depopulation exercise will involve the humane slaughter of all pigs on the affected farm and that the operation is being coordinated in consultation with relevant authorities and agencies to ensure that internationally accepted animal welfare standards are carried out.
“The rate and timing of depopulation will depend on the availability and suitability of a disposal site for the carcasses,” the MALF said, adding that while on-site burial is the recommended method for carcass disposal, an environmental assessment determined that the affected farm is not suitable for this approach.
“The Ministry has since explored several alternative locations and continues to engage with key agencies to identify a viable disposal site. Inter-agency collaboration remains ongoing to support the safe and timely execution of this critical phase of the response.”
The MALF said that during this period, it has intensified national surveillance efforts to monitor the health status of the country’s swine population.
“To date, 345 diagnostic samples have been collected from 36 pig farms across Trinidad and Tobago, with a focus on high-density pig farming areas. Efforts are also being made to update the national pig registry and strengthen disease tracking through detailed mapping of pig farms.’
The ministry said at the regional and international levels, it is holding discussions with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and veterinary experts from the University of the West Indies (UWI) to ensure that the local response is informed by global best practice.
“As part of its long-term strategy, the Ministry is reviewing protocols for the importation of live animals and genetic material, exploring the feasibility of PRRS vaccination or eradication programmes and promoting sustainable herd health initiatives to build greater resilience within the pork industry.”
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