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I just received an update from the CDC, confirming there are now 896 cases of H1N1 (Swine Flu) in 41 states. Interestingly, here in Arkansas (where I spent the last two days mingling with outstanding health professionals), there hasn’t been a single case.

Here’s the current national tally:

•  Alabama:  4
•  Arizona:  48
•  California:  106
•  Colorado:  17
•  Connecticut:  4
•  Delaware:  38
•  Florida:  5
•  Georgia:  3
•  Hawaii:  3
•  Idaho:  1
•  Illinois:  204
•  Indiana:  15
•  Iowa:  5
•  Kansas:  7
•  Kentucky:  2
•  Louisiana:  7
•  Maine:  4
•  Maryland:  4
•  Massachusetts:  71
•  Michigan:  9
•  Minnesota:  1
•  Missouri:  4
•  Nebraska: 4
•  Nevada:  5
•  New Hampshire:  2
•  New Jersey:  7
•  New Mexico:  8
•  New York:  98
•  North Carolina:  7
•  Ohio:  5
•  Oklahoma:  1
•  Oregon:  15
•  Pennsylvania:  2
•  Rhode Island:  2
•  South Carolina:  17
•  Tennessee:  2
•  Texas:  91 (and 2 deaths)
•  Utah:  8  
•  Virginia:  11
•  Washington:  23
•  Wisconsin:  26

In any event, despite the spread of H1N1 throughout the country, I simply wanted to note, once again, that pork products, and Arkansas, remain perfectly safe...

It is also (in my mind) equally important to point out that, wherever we live, we shouldn’t let the flu ruin our fun. Despite 26 confirmed cases in Wisconsin, I look forward to returning home tomorrow (in a small, confined airplane), and promptly ordering myself a cold beverage and, more important, a Johnsonville brat . . .

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Oops. A hog farm in Alberta is under quarantine after Canadian pigs caught the Hybrid H1N1 Flu from a farm worker. The pigs were exposed to the virus after a worker at a family-run farm returned from Mexico with flu symptoms. This is the first time the new H1N1 influenza strain has been found in pigs.

Canadian officials stressed that the outbreak (involving approximately 200 pigs in a herd of 2,200) has been fully contained, assured the public that the country's food supply is safe, and stressed (again) that there is no risk of contracting the illness by eating pork. Echoing recent comments from the CDC and USDA, Canadian health officials stressed there is “no evidence the virus can be transmitted through eating pork.” Click on the following link to read Agriculture Secretary Vilsack's commnets on the Canadian Outbreak.  Moreover, even if pork could become contaminated (through cross contamination or other means), which is very unlikely, we know that cooking pork to 160 degrees readily kills any pathogens that might be present.

Here at home, the CDC has confirmed approximately 226 human cases of the flu in 30 states. And, as far as we can tell, American pigs remain completely unaffected.

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As of this morning, the CDC has confirmed a total of 40 swine flu cases in the United States (increased from 20 over the weekend). As noted in our previous post, the current strain is a mutated variant of swine flu which can be transmitted directly from person-to-person. For this and other reasons, the current illnesses are not believed to be related in any way to exposure to pigs or pork products. Click on the following link to visit the CDC Swine Flu Website.

Indeed, according to scientists at the USDA and the CDC, “swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food, so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products." Moreover, the virus (like other pathogens), even if present (through cross contamination or other means), is easily killed if heated to 160 degrees. In turn, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack confirmed further that "[t]here has been no evidence,” in any event, “that [any] swine have been infected with this virus."

Echoing Vilsack’s comments, the National Pork Producers Council (“NPPC”) likewise confirmed that "pork is safe to eat, and direct contact with swine is not the source of, and U.S. pigs have not been infected with, the hybrid influenza.” According to NPPC, the CDC and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

• People cannot get the hybrid influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

• There are no food safety issues related to the hybrid flu that have been identified, according to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.

• Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the hybrid flu had contact with hogs.

• This virus is very different from that found in pigs.

• The hybrid virus never has been identified in hogs in the United States or anywhere in the world.

• The hybrid virus is contagious and is spreading by human-to-human transmission.

Despite such assurances, however, Russia nevertheless suspended imports of all port products from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas (Russia has also suspended imports of all meat products from California, Kansas and Texas). Russia also suspended shipments from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama and El Salvador.

According to the CDC, swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Although the disease normally does not infect humans, human infections have been known to occur in rare instances among people who are exposed to pigs. Until now, however, cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have been extremely rare. Symptoms resemble those of regular flu but, as demonstrated in the most recent mutation, the virus also has the potential to be fatal.

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With numerous cases of swine flu reported in Mexico, Canada and now here at home, the United States is stepping up preparations for a possible pandemic.

As a general matter, the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus rarely infects humans. Although sporadic human cases have been reported, the virus is usually associated with exposure to pigs, and rarely transmitted between people.

Recent victims, however, have reported no exposure to swine, and investigators believe that the virus may have mutated and is spreading between humans. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, the virus has been fatal.

In years past, there were only a few cases of swine flu reported annually in the United States. As of today, however, the CDC confirmed 20 cases of swine flu in five states:

• California: 7
• Kansas: 2
• New York City: 8
• Ohio: 1
• Texas: 2

These cases are a likely extension of the outbreak in Mexico. As of this afternoon, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said 81 deaths were suspected to be from the outbreak, and 374 people remained hospitalized. Notably, Mexico City has closed all of its schools and universities until further notice because of the virus, and troops were handing out filter masks outside the National Cathedral on Sunday morning. No masses were scheduled at the cathedral, but dozens of worshippers put on masks and went inside the church to pray on their own.

Canada has also confirmed at least six cases of illnesses, while Spain, Israel and New Zealand are investigating possible but unconfirmed cases.

In turn, the CDC is working closely with state and local officials in California, Texas, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. In addition to attempting to determine the source of the U.S. infections, investigators are also attempting to determine how easily the virus is transmitted from person to person, and whether additional people may have been infected. Click on the following link to visit the CDC Swine Flu Website. 

As an aside, although the CDC reports that swine flu is not normally transmitted by food, we do know that the virus (like other pathogens), if present, is easily killed if heated to 160 degrees.

In any event, although the U.S. government has now declared “a public health emergency” -- a step Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said "sounds more severe than really it is,” – this is standard operating procedure which allows federal, state and local agencies to better direct their resources toward prevention and mitigation.

In turn, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs echoed Napolitano's comments confirming that, although the outbreak "is of great concern to the White House, it's certainly not a time to panic."

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