Minnesota State Fair pig tests postive for H1N1

However, the officials have stated that infection of the fair pig cannot be generalized to assume that the commercial pigs are also infected, since fair pigs and commercially raised pigs are kept separately.

Following this confirmation, they have also issued a statement saying that the food supply is protected and people cannot get infected with the virus through eating pork.

"We have fully engaged our trading partners to remind them that several international organizations, including the World Organization for Animal Health, have advised that there is no scientific basis to restrict trade in pork and pork products," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "People cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products. Pork is safe to eat."

Of late, misconceptions have been rising that one could contract the H1N1 virus through eating pork. This has badly hit the sales in the pork industry.

103 fair pigs tested
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National veterinary services laboratories tested samples of nearly 103 pigs at the Minnesota State Fair, between Aug. 26 and Sept. 1, held in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The samples’ collection was a joint initiative of the University of Iowa and University of Minnesota, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S.

The researchers tested one pig from Minnesota Fair positive in the preliminary test for H1N1 virus. Rest of the samples taken from the fair pigs showed no signs of sickness or symptoms of the H1N1 virus.

The officials speculated that it is likely that the pig might have contracted the virus from people who visited the fair. Nearly 1.8 million attended the Minnesota State Fair.

Officials spreading awareness among pork producers
As the pandemic flu is already taking a toll among humans, the pork producers are advised to watch for H1N1 symptoms including mucus coming from the nose, loss of appetite etc. in the pigs and report them, if any, to a veterinarian, stated the USDA officials.

The USDA is also encouraging the producers to follow bio-security practices, including cleaning and disinfecting the premises for the security of their animals' health.

In order to prevent the spread of influenza, the industry groups are also encouraging pork producers and their employees to get vaccinated for seasonal flu so that the infection is not transmitted to their animals.