As talk of the H1N1 Influenza spreads around the globe, pigs are bearing the brunt of people’s anxiety.
Pig farmers are already feeling the fallout as several countries; including Philippines, El Salvador, Honduras and Ukraine have banned Canadian pork products. However, hog farmers are not taking this lying down; they have successfully lobbied the government to start referring to “swine flu” as H1N1. Now, they’re hoping to correct a misconception that eating pork causes the virus.
I caught up with Boehringer Ingelheim Canada’s swine specialist Dr. S. Ernest Sanford, DVM on Friday, to get his take on the situation.
Sanford believes the priority right now should be to keep the virus away from pigs, as they are the most susceptible.
“Pigs are in immensely greater danger to catch this disease from people than people are from pigs,” says Sanford. “Even if pigs had the virus it does not go through to the pork we consume”.
In coordination with various Provincial Ministries of Agriculture and Veterinary Associations, Sanford released a statement last week to industry stakeholders confirming that:
- Influenza A (H1N1) is not a food safety concern. You can continue to enjoy eating pork.
- You cannot catch Influenza A (H1N1) from consuming pork or pork products.
- Hog producers are continuing to implement biosecurity protocols, including restricted entry into their barns so that people will not pass the disease over to pigs.
Despite the hog industry’s best efforts, unfortunately the term swine flu will likely stick. It is up to us, as consumers to continue supporting our local hog farmers.
Absolutely!! With a hubby as a producer in the field, there’s been some quick impacts on the industry … not the least of which is mass confusion about the H1N1 flu and pork products.
Cheers,
Jennifer