The unit acts as a nursery for pigs produced for breeding farms in the same ownership. The pigs remain on the nursery premises before being moved to fattening units. For each category the number of confirmed cases and morbidity Pigs on the infected premises are housed in 7 sheds, One shed contains 1200 pigs of which so far 200 have been clinically affected. The second shed contains 240 pigs which at the time of the investigation were showing evidence of disease. The clinical signs exhibited by the affected pigs comprised fever lethargy, wasting yellow diarrhea, and unsteadiness on hind legs.
Pigs become moribund and die with some developing a sitting stance, some develop meningitis.
There is evidence of skin lesions in the form of cyanotic patches mainly in the abdomen or raised scabby lesions mainly on the legs some being more widespread. The post mortem picture comprised of chronic pneumonia, peritonitis, swollen pale kidneys and enlarged sub-maxilliary lymph glands. There is no swill feeding on the premises. Restriction orders have also been Placed on two further holdings. This is the first outbreak of Classical swine fever in the UK since 1986.