As intern at the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, Monday was a blur for me. It wasn’t because I dreaded dead week or the fact that I hadn’t started my extensive research assignment. It was from the H1N1 flu.
No, I didn’t contract H1N1 flu, but it did have an effect on the association.
In order to ward off a panic epidemic in Nebraska, the Nebraska Pork Producers Association had to get ready and be prepared to answer worried customers’ questions.
The National Pork Board sent out numerous press releases trying to ease people’s minds and to keep the pork industry from going into a nose dive in already tough economic times.
The National Pork Producers Council, in a press release, said “Pork is safe to eat, and direct contact with swine in the source of, and U.S. pigs have not been infected with, the hybrid influenza that has been identified in a number of people in the United States and more than 1,300 in Mexico.
So how is the fatal strain contracted? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “This virus is different, very different from that found in pigs.”
According to the CDC and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
• People cannot get the hybrid influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
• There are no food safety issues related to the hybrid flu that has been identified, according to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.
• Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the hybrid flu had contact with hogs.
• “This virus is different, very different from that found in pigs.”
• The hybrid virus never has been identified in hogs in the United States or anywhere in the world.
• The hybrid virus is contagious and is spreading by human-to-human transmission.
None of the cases in the U.S have been fatal, but Mexico hasn’t been as fortunate. Where the strain was first located, Mexico has reported 150 deaths caused from the swine flu. Officials advise people to avoid international travel and report infected swine has not shown in U.S pork.
So take a risk and eat pork, or not. It’s your choice.
I’ll be enjoying pork myself.