Merial Animal Health has launched CIRCOVAC®, the UK’s first vaccine for PCV2 – the virus involved in post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and other PCV2-related diseases.

An inactivated vaccine against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), CIRCOVAC is administered to sows and gilts, offering UK pig producers an effective solution to a disease which has been estimated to cost the industry £20m per annum.

“I believe it’s the single most significant disease problem that’s faced the industry since 1999,” says Derek Armstrong, veterinary scientist with BPEX. “The figures suggest that 80% of farmers have had experience of PCV2 since 1999 and most will have experienced at least a doubling of their mortality rates, with some unlucky ones seeing peaks far higher.”

According to a recent survey commissioned by Merial, 46% of UK pig veterinary specialists considered PMWS to have had a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ impact on their clients’ herd health status and economics. The priority for vaccination against the disease was put at ‘very high’ or ‘high’ by all respondents, who together have 70% of the UK breeding herd under their care.