Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Current Outbreak Being Called "Swine" Flu is Hogwash

Calling the current flu outbreak by the name of “Swine” Flu is nothing but hogwash. Putting the term “swine” in the name is incorrect; the World Organisation for Animal Health (also known by its acronym OIE) is calling it the “North-American Influenza.” All the data says there are no recorded instances of swine anywhere in the world infected with the influenza virus strain that has led to people becoming ill in Mexico and the United States.

The USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, say that the flu virus causing this outbreak is not transmitted by food, eliminating the possibility of infection from eating pork or pork products.

I just want to remind Texans that while this flu strain is very serious, it is still safe to eat properly handled and cooked pork, and pork products. You can read more about what TDA is doing to monitor hogs and pigs in the Lone Star State here.

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