Call for Common Sense in Reaction to H1N1 Flu

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Latest Pig Industry News

Friday, May 01, 2009

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Call for Common Sense in Reaction to H1N1 Flu

CANADA - The Canadian Swine Health Board is calling for common sense in reacting to an H1N1 influenza A outbreak, writes Bruce Cochrane.

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According the OIE current scientific information indicates a novel H1N1 influenza virus first identified in Mexico is being transmitted among humans and there is no evidence of infection in pigs, nor of humans acquiring infection directly from pigs.
,br> Canadian Swine Health Board Chair Florian Possberg says, although this infection is a human disease, the name "swine flu" has undermined confidence in pork.

Florian Possberg-Canadian Swine Health Board

There's a number of countries that have questioned the food safety of North American pork and that's very very unfortunate.

We even hear of the example of Egypt where they've decided to eliminate swine production from their whole country.

Some of these things are not based on any kind of sound science, they're based on panic.

We know when the mad cow thing hit Canada it had a devastating impact on our beef producers.

This potentially, if common sense is not followed, could have a devastating impact on our hog industry.

Our hog industry has already went through very difficult times.

I would characterize this as a drive by shooting.

We're innocent, we don't need this, it's going to continue to hurt our industry if common sense isn't followed.

The sooner people back into the pattern of realizing that our pork is perfectly safe and buying it for their families on an ongoing basis the better off we all are.

Mr Possberg says, although there is no known case of this virus infecting pigs strict biosecurity protocols on farms should remain in effect.

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