Ceva Animal Health has announced it will launch Salmoporc, a live attenuated vaccine against Salmonella typhimurium in pigs, in 12 European countries including the UK over the rest of 2019.

The company says Salmoporc has been used on German and Polish farms for over 15 years and has proved to be safe and effective in controlling salmonella.

The vaccine can be administered orally in piglets and via subcutaneous injection in sows.

Company vet Dr Rike Schmelz said: "Salmonella in pigs is growing threat and an important zoonotic disease. According to the 2018 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report, salmonellosis is the second most reported zoonosis in Europe with over 90,000 cases reported in humans.

"Salmonella typhimurium and monophasic Salmonella typhimurium represented 17 per cent of confirmed human cases in 2017 so constitutes a major risk to humans."

VetSurgeon.org understands the new vaccine is expected in the UK sometime after October, before which it can be obtained under a Special Import Certificate.

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