The American Association of Swine Veterinarians will release a document with recommendations on the Pandemic H1N1 disease and the risk it poses to the U.S. swine herd, according to Rodney “Butch” Baker, DVM, AASV president. The document will be available to veterinarians and producers by early August. The Pandemic H1N1 virus has never been found in U.S. pigs. “Based on current research with the virus, it has been determined that the virus is infectious in pigs and it will likely spread if it does enter our pig population,” Baker reports. Further, it has been determined that pork from influenza-recovered pigs is completely safe. “We are certain that swine influenza viruses will not enter the food chain from pigs that have recovered from this virus,” he continues. All pigs harvested in the U.S. must be healthy at the time of slaughter. All pigs are inspected by government Food Safety Inspection Service veterinarians to assure this.
The virus will not be present in the meat.