Washington, D.C., October 19, 2009  -

With today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that pigs in Minnesota tested positive for the 2009 novel H1N1 virus, the National Pork Producers Council reiterates that pork is safe to eat and handle and that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu viruses cannot be transmitted through food, including pork.

Pigs, like people, sometimes get sick or contract influenza viruses and recover. Indeed, pigs in several other countries previously have contracted the novel H1N1 flu.

As it did in late April after initial reports on the H1N1 flu, NPPC is urging pork producers to tighten their existing biosecurity protocols to protect their pigs from the virus, including restricting public access to barns.

For more information about the H1N1 flu, visit www.factsaboutpork.com or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu. Pork producers who want more information about dealing with the H1N1 flu should visit www.pork.org.

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