Pork producers and big food companies are feeling the brunt of the damage from concerns over the swine flu, even though experts say you can't get the sickness from eating pork products.
It doesn't help that Russia and China are banning imports of pork products from three U.S. states and Mexico.
The Associated Press reported:
"Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, emphasized that swine flu is not spread by food.
"'You can't get this from eating pork,' he said.
"'Cook your pork appropriately so you don't get other infectious diseases, but influenza is not transmitted from eating pork or pork products, they are safe.'"
The National Pork Producers Council explained more about the issue:
- There are no food safety issues related to the hybrid flu that has been identified, according to [Department of Homeland Security] Secretary Janet Napolitano.
- Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the hybrid flu had contact with hogs.
- This virus is different, very different from that found in pigs.
- The hybrid virus never has been identified in hogs in the United States or anywhere in the world.
- The hybrid virus is contagious and is spreading by human-to-human transmission.
Reuters reported:
"Although it is called 'swine flu' there is no evidence that any of the cases stemmed from contact with pigs, said Liz Wagstrom, a veterinarian who works on public health issues for the U.S. National Pork Board.
"'As far as we know, it's never been seen in pigs worldwide,' Wagstrom said in an interview.
"But because people and pigs can pass flu viruses to each other, the pork board and the National Pork Producers Council said pigs and barn workers should be vaccinated for seasonal flus, and sick employees should stay away from barns.
"Farmers should also restrict visitors from barns, especially people who have recently been in Mexico, Wagstrom said, and maintain 'biosecurity' measures like keeping birds out of barns and ensuring water is treated.
"Swine flu, first found in 1930, causes fever and coughing in pigs, but is not usually severe enough to kill them. The virus is common in U.S. barns, so farmers routinely vaccinate herds.
"In the United States, there have been 12 cases since 2005 in which humans caught swine flu after being in contact with pigs, Wagstrom said. 'It's very uncommon to see it spread from pigs to people,' she said."
