The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified cases in the United States where people have been diagnosed with a form of influenza virus known as swine influenza virus subtype H1N1. That is the same virus causing human illness in Mexico.
Swine influenza virus not in pork
According to the CDC, swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe.
Not found in pigs
The swine influenza subtype isolated from these cases is unique. It has not been found in U.S. pigs and had not been previously recognized in people. According to the CDC, “This virus is different, very different from that found in pigs.” At this time there is no evidence that this swine influenza subtype is present in pigs in the United States or anywhere in the pig herd in the world. The CDC’s investigation continues.
Transmission of the virus
The CDC has determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from humans to humans. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
Additional resources:
The National Pork Producers Council
News release from April 26 http://www.nppc.org/News/PressRelease.aspx?DocumentID=24676
Flu facts factsheet http://www.nppc.org/UploadedFiles/Flu%20Facts04-09.doc
From the National Pork Board
On homepage http://www.pork.org/
Factsheet http://www.pork.org/PorkScience/Documents/PUBLICHEALTH%20influenza.pdf
Kathy S. Schmidt
4/27/2009