Cargill Plans H1N1 Sow Vaccination
By Pork news source
| Monday, November 09, 2009
Vaccinating the human population against 2009 Novel H1N1 influenza is a priority for many U.S. health professionals. Now, with two reports confirming the presence of the virus in U.S. hogs, Minneapolis-based Cargill is planning to vaccinate about 120,000 sows, according to a Minnesota Public Radio report.
Cargill spokesman Mark Klein said the company may receive the swine vaccine as early as early as November. "We're hoping that's the case because we have our routine semi-annual vaccination program for our sow herds in December. And so we would be looking to incorporate that at that time."
The USDA provided the 2009 Novel H1N1 influenza master seed to animal health companies for production of the swine vaccine. "We have provided the master seed to a number of private companies, that can manufacture this particular vaccine for H1N1 for swine," said John Clifford, DVM, USDA’s deputy administrator for veterinary services.
It is the hope of USDA that the swine vaccine will prevent the virus from becoming established in the U.S. swine herd. Clifford said pork producers will need to decide whether to vaccinate their animals.
"Pigs are susceptible to human influenza viruses, to flu viruses that circulate normally in pigs, as well as to viruses that circulate normally in birds and in poultry," says Carolyn Bridges with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bridges said more than 99 percent of the viruses seen "are very well matched to the vaccine strain."
Bridges said that pigs are a natural mixing vessel for flu viruses. It's possible the human virus could combine with a hog or bird virus inside the pig to form a brand new bug that's more dangerous to humans.
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Source: Minnesota Public Radio
