Worker may have passed H1N1 to Alberta pigs

Updated Sat. May. 2 2009 6:36 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

Health authorities have confirmed the presence of H1N1 in Alberta pigs, and say the virus may have jumped from a farm worker to the animals, in what could be the first case of human-to-animal transmission of the virus.
Dr. Brian Evans, of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said a Canadian returned from Mexico on April 12, and began work at an Alberta swine farm on April 14.
"This person was exhibiting flu-like symptoms following the return, and may have exposed swine on the farm to an influenza virus," said Evans. "I can tell you that the traveler has recovered."
It was later confirmed that the pigs were, in fact, infected with the same H1N1 virus spreading around the world.
"We have determined that the virus H1N1, found in these pigs, is the virus which is being tracked in the human population," said Evans.
The animals are now recovering, and the herd has been placed in isolation.
Evans said it is not uncommon for influenza to jump from humans to pigs. He also said there is no evidence humans can get H1N1 from eating pork, and urged against any bans of Canadian products.
"I want to be clear: There is no food-safety concern related to this finding," said Evans.
"They key here is that influenza viruses do not affect the safety of pork," he added. "Therefore, we are calling on the international community that they base their decisions on facts, not fear."
Herman Simons, a spokesperson for Alberta Pork, told The Canadian Press he was worried about how the news may impact exports.
"That's our big concern," Simons said. "The biggest concern is it may impact exports of live animals into the U.S."
Scientists believe the H1N1 virus, or so-called "swine flu," has been passed from human to human for some time. But even though the virus contains swine flu genes, the World Health Organization says there is no evidence pigs are passing the disease to humans.
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