KLA: Research Project Testing Hogs For H1N1
10/19/2009 09:23AM
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The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) is testing swine samples collected at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair for H1N1 influenza. The pigs sampled at the time of the fair, held August 26 through September 1, showed no signs of illness and were evaluated as healthy. NVSL is expected to have confirmatory results in the next few days.
An outbreak of pandemic H1N1 influenza occurred in a group of children housed in a dormitory at the fair. No direct link to the pigs has been made. The samples collected from the hogs were part of a University of Iowa and University of Minnesota cooperative agreement research project intended to document influenza viruses where humans and pigs interact at fairs. Funding for the study was provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack reminded the public swine can contract influenza viruses, just like humans. He emphasized people cannot get the flu from eating pork.
USDA continues to remind swine producers about the need for good hygiene, biosecurity and other practices to prevent the introduction and spread of influenza in their herds. Producers are encouraged to participate in USDA’s swine influenza virus surveillance program.
For more information visit www.kla.org.