MRSA Found in UK Poultry, But Threat to Humans Considered Very Low

The U.K. Department of Health (DH) has identified the presence of livestock-associated MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in turkeys and chickens on a farm in East Anglia.  The BBC reports that it’s the first case of LA-MRSA in poultry in the U.K., and that two-thirds of the turkeys on the unnamed farm were infected. Hundreds of turkeys may have already been sold to local retail outlets.  LA-MRSA is not the same bacteria that cause the healthcare-associated infections that affect people. DH reports that the risk of getting it from eating poultry meat is very low if the meat is handled hygienically and cooked thoroughly to kill any bacteria. The agency also says that the risk catching LA-MRSA from an animal is also very low.  LA-MRSA rarely causes disease in people, and, in most cases, the bacteria clear within 24 hours. If the strain were to affect humans, the DH says it would involve a mild skin infection.  “There are many different strains of MRSA that cause illness in people, but this is not one of the strains that we are overly concerned about, given the very low number of clinical infections that have been seen in people,” said Professor Angela Kearns, head of the Staphylococcus Reference service at Public Health England.  In addition, Peter Borriello, chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, said that LA-MRSA is not considered a significant risk to animal health and welfare.