Swine Flu Positive in Commercial Herd of Pigs in US

In an article published last month, there were also three pigs from the Minnesota State Fair that were thought to have contracted the swine flu virus according to preliminary tests. After further testing, the swine flu was confirmed. These were not commercial hogs like the herd who tested positive in Indiana.

The positive tests in Indiana came just days after U.S. officials successfully negotiated an end to a six-month ban on pork imports to China. Officials expect the Chinese to reopen their import markets, offering pork producers an opportunity to export to what was their fastest growing market before the swine flu outbreak.

USDA officials have stressed that instances of pigs with swine flu do not pose a threat to consumers of pork products. However a commercial herd contracting the virus for the first time is just bad news for the pork industry.

Poor pork prices have blamed on swine flu fears and the global recession.

A vaccine for hogs is being developed but not yet available. News of the virus in pigs came after herd infections in several other countries, including Canada, Australia, Argentina, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Norway.

Reference: USDA

Cheryl Phillips
HULIQ.com