Tuesday May 26, 2009

Local Pork Industry Fears Virus Association

The National Pork Board and local extension services are trying to spread the word that no U.S. herd of swine is known to be infected, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To further enhance this message, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is urging the media to call swine flu by its technical name: "H1N1."

"This really isn't swine flu," Mr. Vilsack said in a written statement. "It's H1N1 virus. That's very, very important. And it is significant, because there are a lot of hardworking families whose livelihood depends on us conveying this message of safety."

The World Health Organization announced in late April that it would stop using the term "swine flu" to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs.

The policy shift came a day after Egypt began slaughtering thousands of pigs in a misguided effort to prevent swine flu, according to The Associated Press. Read More...

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