Swine Flu sans Swine

[Sheri Nakken]

USDA: Swine not infected with swine flu

Published: April 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM

U.S. officials said Sunday there is no evidence the outbreak of swine flu has affected swine and consumers cannot get the virus from eating pork.

"There is no evidence at this time showing that swine have been infected with this virus," Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in a statement.

Citing scientists at the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vilsack said swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food "so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products." Vilsack reminded consumers that food must be properly handled and cooked to kill viruses and other foodborne pathogens.

"USDA has in place, and did so before the last week's events, a surveillance system to monitor animal health," Vilsack said. "As an additional precautionary measure, I have asked USDA to reach out to agriculture officials in every state to affirm that they have no signs of this virus type in their state."

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday she has declared a public health emergency to free up funds to fight the virus' spread and to release one-quarter of the government's stockpile of anti-virus medications Tamiflu and Relenza.

Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, said his agency has confirmed 20 non-fatal cases of swine flu within the Unites States, including eight cases found among New York City high school students. The other cases were detected in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and seven in California.
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA
Vaccines - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine Dangers & Childhood Disease & Homeopathy Email classes start April 22 & 23
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Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm & http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm
ONLINE/Email classes in Homeopathy; Vaccine Dangers; Childhood Diseases Reality
Next classes start April 22 & 23