MRSA from pigs has passed to humans and could be in the food chain

A deadly strain of MRSA found in pigs has passed to humans in the UK for the first time.

Scientists have warned that the superbug could already be in the food chain because none of those infected works with pigs.

Campaigners last night called on the Government and Food Standards Agency to investigate the extent of the contamination in pigs and pork.

The MRSA strain, ST398, which has been linked to deaths from pneumonia, was first identified in the Netherlands in 2003 and is responsible for 30 per cent of the country's human cases of the superbug.

Until recently, there were no reported cases in Britain. But Government laboratories in Scotland have discovered three cases in humans, none of whom work with pigs.

This raises the possibility the superbug is being passed between humans or is reaching consumers buying pork on the High Street.

The cases were revealed after pressure from campaigners at the Soil Association. Its experts became aware of an unusual case of MRSA in Scotland and asked the Scottish MRSA Reference Laboratory to carry out further tests. It found the MRSA involved was the strain found in pigs and that there were at least two other cases.

Richard Young, the Soil Association's policy adviser, said: 'The Government had plenty of opportunities to take steps to keep this MRSA out, but it failed to take them.

'It is has been burying its head in the sand. It is an absolute disgrace.'