PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Livestock: MRSA (7 July 2015)
Question Asked
Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)
Answer
The most common type of LA-MRSA in Europe belongs to clonal complex 398 (CC398). MRSA CC398 is less virulent and transmissible compared to other strains and is unlikely to pass from person to person and become endemic in the human population.
However studies from various countries in continental Europe have demonstrated that in limited circumstances it is possible for MRSA CC398 to be transmitted from animals to people. This tends to be constrained to those who have regular contact with livestock that are carrying the bacteria, in particular pigs.
Answered by:
George Eustice (Conservative)
13 July 2015
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