USDA: Swine not infected with swine flu

Published: April 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM

U.S. officials said Sunday there is no evidence
the outbreak of swine flu has affected swine and
consumers cannot get the virus from eating pork.

"There is no evidence at this time showing that
swine have been infected with this virus,"
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in a statement.

Citing scientists at the Department of
Agriculture and the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Vilsack said swine flu
viruses are not transmitted by food "so you
cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork
products." Vilsack reminded consumers that food
must be properly handled and cooked to kill
viruses and other foodborne pathogens.

"USDA has in place, and did so before the last
week's events, a surveillance system to monitor
animal health," Vilsack said. "As an additional
precautionary measure, I have asked USDA to reach
out to agriculture officials in every state to
affirm that they have no signs of this virus type in their state."

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary
Janet Napolitano said Sunday she has declared a
public health emergency to free up funds to fight
the virus' spread and to release one-quarter of
the government's stockpile of anti-virus medications Tamiflu and Relenza.

Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control, said his agency has
confirmed 20 non-fatal cases of swine flu within
the Unites States, including eight cases found
among New York City high school students. The
other cases were detected in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and seven in California.


© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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