Equipped with the Facts: H1N1
National Pork Board
| Monday, October 26, 2009
On September 15, 2009, Pork Checkoff held a webinar for ag media representatives to share the facts and emergency action plans regarding the H1N1 influenza virus. In the last several months, pork industry leaders have collaborated to ensure consumers get the right information about H1N1. We know that H1N1 has contributed to the decline of current and future hog prices since April 24 and has voided the normal summer rally in hog prices. Pork Checkoff is committed to assisting pork producers, assuring U.S. consumer confidence in the pork industry, protecting our export markets, and helping customers make science-based instead of emotional decisions when purchasing pork. Click here to view the recorded webinars.
The H1N1 webinar was led by pork industry and animal health experts: Chris Novak, National Pork Board CEO, Dr. Liz Wagstrom, NPB Assistant Vice President of Science and Technology, Dr. Marcus Kehrli of the USDA Animal Disease Control, Dr. Paul Sundberg, NPB Vice President of Science Technology, and Ceci Snyder, NPB Vice President of Domestic Marketing.
While the future impact of the H1N1 virus is impossible to predict, the National Pork Board hopes that its proactive measures will help producers offset the risks associated with the virus. As PQA Plus® Advisors, you can help ensure that producers understand the facts and take strong measures to prevent the spreading of influenza. To date, no cases of the novel H1N1 virus have infected the U.S. swine herd, but scientists have learned that this strain of influenza affects pigs similarly to other strains of influenza in swine. The disease infects the respiratory tract in pigs and transmits among pigs, not pig to human. No infection has been found in the blood, ham, or internal organs, and as a precautionary measure, sick pigs are not sold for slaughter. It is important to remember that you cannot contract H1N1 from eating or handling pork. Rather than food borne, it is an airborne disease.
Producers who are PQA Plus certified should already have a plan in place to handle animals that are infected with influenza, and they can take similar measures should the H1N1 strain hit their operation. All employees are encouraged to get a vaccination to prevent the spread of the disease. For more information about the H1N1 flu or the how producers can plan for the flu at the farm level, contact us at (800) 456-PORK or visit us online at www.pork.org.
