Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to protect public health following the discovery of a strain of MRSA in pork products sold in British supermarkets, which is linked to the overuse of powerful antibiotics in intensive farm production.

Livestock-associated meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) has been found worldwide and is not the same as the MRSA strains that normally cause healthcare-associated infections. If meat is stored, handled and prepared properly, the risk to people is very low and there are no known cases of people contracting LA-MRSA from eating meat.

The annual progress report and implementation plan for the UK five-year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy includes the measures on animal health to be taken over the next four years to promote the responsible use of antibiotics. This is attached and available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/progress-report-on-the-uk-five-year-amr-strategy-2014

Regarding LA-MRSA specifically, there are a number of initiatives to reduce the risk, for example, Public Health England regularly reminds diagnostic laboratories of the need for continued vigilance and ensuring that MRSA isolates are submitted for further tests if there may be an association with farming. In addition, Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate are leading a review of options for increased surveillance, which will be proportionate to the low public health risk. Defra is also considering additional guidance for farmers on how to reduce the risk of importing LA-MRSA into their farm. Furthermore Defra have previously worked with the National Pig Association and recommend that anyone importing breeding pigs and semen to Britain should have them screened for MRSA before importation.