U.S. Hog Confirmed with Swine Flu

The pandemic H1N1 flu virus was confirmed for the first time today in a U.S. hog, which was exhibited at the Minnesota State Fair where four teenagers became sick, the Agriculture Department said on October 19, 2009.

USDA said the discovery does not suggest infection of commercial pig herds raised for slaughter. Health officials say the virus, originally known as swine flu, is not linked to meat products. "People cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products. Pork is safe to eat," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.

Swine flu, common in hogs around the world, causes fever and coughing in pigs, which usually recover from the illness. The virus has been found in several herds in Canada.

Minnesota State Fair, which ended September 6, 2009, sent 120 teens home on September 3 after four of them were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. The teens were members of a performing arts group in 4-H, a nationwide social and educational program for rural youth.

On Friday, USDA said "information available at this time would suggest the children were not sickened by contact with the fair pigs." It said the hogs appeared healthy when the samples were taken. A USDA source said it appeared some of the children handling the swine were showing signs of the flu.

Source: yahoo.com