New Jersey Department of Agriculture

Memo

To: Veterinarians/Livestock Producers

From: Nancy E. Halpern, DVM, State Veterinarian

Date: April 30, 2009

Re: Influenza A: 2009 H1N1

“Swine Flu” is a misnomer and USDA, NJDA and other agriculture and swine industry experts are calling for an immediate change in name. To date, no swine have been identified anywhere with the strain of flu (H1N1) circulating in humans and at this time, the disease appears limited to humans.

Although this disease has not been found in swine, pork producers should still take precautionary measures, both to protect their herds from being infected and to protect their own health.

* Do not permit anyone with flu-like symptoms in or around the barns – this includes employees.

     1. Do not allow visitors to the farm – especially international visitors who have had contact with other livestock.

     2. If pigs show flu symptoms – coughing, runny nose, fever and/or a reduction in feed intake – call your veterinarian and the State Veterinarian with the NJ Department of Agriculture at 609-292-3965 to have the animals tested.

     3. Continue to employ good biosecurity and best management practices to reduce the risk of diseases such as influenza – for information on biosecurity go to: http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/divisions/ah/news/biosecurity.html or http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/images/photo_library/bmpanimalposter.pdf.

* Follow sanitary practices to eliminate the spread of disease – this applies to people as well as vehicles, equipment, and animals. Wash your hands frequently and especially before and after handling animals.

Despite the implications in the misnaming of this flu virus as “Swine Flu”, eating pork is not considered a risk factor in contracting the disease. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack reports that the USDA is working to reverse the embargoes and reiterates the message to US trade partners that “our pork and pork products are safe”. According to scientists at USDA, influenza viruses are not transmitted by food so a person cannot get an influenza virus from eating pork or pork products. In fact, cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160^o F kills all viruses and other food-borne pathogens. It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked pork and pork products.

As always, practice safe raw food handling:

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw pork.
• Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw pork away from other foods.
• After cutting raw meat, wash cutting board, knife, and countertops with hot, soapy water.
• Sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of 1 tablespoon chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use a food thermometer to ensure pork has reached the safe internal temperature of at least 160 °F to kill food-borne germs that might be present.

Unfortunately, the misnaming of this virus has led to declining business and accusations aimed at the swine industry. Local residents of the town of La Gloria in Mexico, believed to be the epicenter of the disease, are blaming their illness on the nearby Smithfield-owned pig farms. This is despite the fact that the virus has not been found in any of the pigs in question. Meanwhile, a senior Mexican health official has said that the genetic information in this new virus strain is more similar to types of flu that affect pigs in Central and East Asia than those in North America. He was quoted as saying that “It is extremely unlikely that the virus made the mutation in La Gloria”.

Other countries have responded to the misnamed disease by enacting trade embargoes banning pork or raw pork imports from some U.S. states – despite the fact that the disease has not been found in swine and the danger does not lie in the handling or consumption of pork products. In addition, Egypt has ordered the slaughter of all of the estimated 300,000 pigs in their country.

This is a novel virus that has not been previously found in humans and to date has still not been found in swine. Agriculture, like many industries, is struggling to survive in this challenging economy. Fear and ignorance are easily enhanced by careless words. Please think carefully and do not use the term “Swine Flu” in discussing this situation with your clients, customers or constituents. Refer to this disease either as “2009 H1N1”, “North American Flu”, or “Influenza A: H1N1” and most importantly, educate others about the lack of involvement of swine in this outbreak.

If you have questions about the health of your hogs, are interested in having your hogs tested or if you have other animal health questions related to the North American Flu outbreak, or if you have members of the press asking for statements concerning the flu outbreak, please call the State Veterinarian at 609-292-3965.