News

H1N1 confirmed in a pig sample

H1N1 flu is confirmed to be in a pig sample collected at the Minnesota State Fair. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the H1N1 in samples that had earlier produced a presumptive positive. Additional samples are being tested.

Now Vilsack says the agency is talking to trading partners to remind them that there is no scientific reason to restrict trade in pork and pork products. He says people cannot get this flu from eating pork.

A USDA release says the infection of the fair pig does not suggest infection of commercial herds because show pigs and commercially raised pigs are in separate segments of the swine industry. The agency says the two segments do not typically interchange personnel or animal stock.

But USDA continues to remind producers about the need for good hygiene, biosecurity and other practices to prevent the introduction and spread of influenza in their herd.