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As panic spreads along with the A/H1N1 virus, unfounded fears about pork are increasing.  The Organization for Animal Health (OIE) stated "that this novel A/H1N1 influenza virus is being transmitted amongst humans; there is no evidence of infection in pigs, nor of humans acquiring infection directly from pigs."

Several countries have stopped the import of pork-related products from regions with outbreaks, despite the lack of any evidence that the virus is carried by swine.  China has taken the unusual step of banning cooked pork from affected areas as well.

Other countries are going to the extreme measure of culling swine herds despite the chorus of experts stating that it will  have no impact.  The OIE called such culling "inappropriate" due to lack of scientific evidence that it will help contain the spread.

Hopefully the politics will stop and sound scientific reasoning will step in.  Most of these measures were taken because of the name "Swine Flu", somewhat a misnomer because the infectious agent  actually contains genes from swine, avian and human viruses.   Pork Producers have called for the  renaming of the disease, a suggestion that public health officials are seriously considering.

... at the Agriculture Department, Secretary Tom Vilsack pushed a change, saying the American hog industry is sound; there are no known sick U.S. pigs. "We have no indication that any swine from the United States has been infected," Vilsack said. "We are open for business. We believe that there is no reason to stop or ban pork or pork products from the United States." Added U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk: "We want to make sure that a handful of our trading partners don't take advantage of this legitimate concern over public health and engage in behavior that could also damage the world's economy." Groups representing the pork industry — including the National Pork Producers Council, the National Pork Board and the American Meat Institute — have all been in talks with the Agriculture Department asking officials to discourage the name "swine flu" and to reassure the public that pork is safe.

Comments (3)
Eric J Lohry,  Sioux City Office:   April 30th, 2009