Swine Flu is a big topic around the country. Because or the term "swine," a lot of people feel are concerned they may become infected by eating pork. I thought I'd start a thread that was clearly and expressly oriented towards swine flu concerns.
"Swine flu" is actually four different virus, only two of which are common, and one of which is dominant. The common types, H1N1 and H3N2 are endemic among farmed pigs in the United States, with H1N1 occuring far more often. Something like 30% of the U.S. pig population shows antibody evidence of previsous infection. Swine flu outbreaks usually occur as the weather becomes cooler -- fall and winter. In the US, as in most countries, outbreaks are treated with anti-flu drugs.
The virus that's causing the current ruckus is H1N1. That's a shame, because it's pretty nasty when it gets to humans. The last big breakout of H1N1 in the US was in the thirties; and IIRC there was a good sized scare in the seventies.
In other threads I wrote that the virus cannot be transmitted from pig to human. That was wrong. I was fudging and got a sort of "you should know better" PM from GoneFishin' -- and he was right.
Setting the record straight, it does happen, but inter-species transmission is rare. It's fair to say that it's a scientific and medical fact, but an epedimiologic and statistical rarity. Maybe even an anomaly. However, the virus almost certainly originated with pigs and the fact that in humans (a) it actually is inter-species, and (b) human infection is relatively rare, means (c) there's very little immunity in human populations. The lack of immunity/resistance is what makes it so dangerous when it does break out among humans. People can get severely ill, and breakouts can be, well, virulent. You hear the term pandemic bandied about -- with cause.
In terms of your own behavior:
It's still safe to be among pigs (of the animal sort), and that the odds against you becoming infected by handling an infected, living pig are extremely slim -- and with normal precautions, nil.
It's as safe as ever to eat pork. Your chances of getting piece cut from an infected animal remain about the same as ever (very small if you buy from a good packer), and getting a piece from an animal which was ever infected also about the same as ever -- around 30%.
160F is the nominal safety temperature for eliminating virus. You may want to kick your internal temperature targets for pork up to meet it -- if for no other reason than to elminate any cause for concern among your family and guests. We can all agree that food should be a source of comfort and not of anxiety.
Otherwise, you know the drll. Stay away from infected people. Observe cough and sneeze etiquette. Wash your hands often enough to make Adrian Monk happy. Keep yourself as healthy as possible otherwise. If you do feel like you're coming down with something -- stay home and take care of yourself. Unfortunately, the normal, seasonal "flu shots," won't touch this thing in terms of either cure or prevention.
For what it's worth, since the current outbreak started getting publicity, lean hog futures have taken a pounding. (ShroomGirl was interested). Most analysts predict a recovery once word gets out that infection is impossible from properly handled pork. Personally, I don't think people are that smart.
Yours in porkritude,
BDL
"Swine flu" is actually four different virus, only two of which are common, and one of which is dominant. The common types, H1N1 and H3N2 are endemic among farmed pigs in the United States, with H1N1 occuring far more often. Something like 30% of the U.S. pig population shows antibody evidence of previsous infection. Swine flu outbreaks usually occur as the weather becomes cooler -- fall and winter. In the US, as in most countries, outbreaks are treated with anti-flu drugs.
The virus that's causing the current ruckus is H1N1. That's a shame, because it's pretty nasty when it gets to humans. The last big breakout of H1N1 in the US was in the thirties; and IIRC there was a good sized scare in the seventies.
In other threads I wrote that the virus cannot be transmitted from pig to human. That was wrong. I was fudging and got a sort of "you should know better" PM from GoneFishin' -- and he was right.
Setting the record straight, it does happen, but inter-species transmission is rare. It's fair to say that it's a scientific and medical fact, but an epedimiologic and statistical rarity. Maybe even an anomaly. However, the virus almost certainly originated with pigs and the fact that in humans (a) it actually is inter-species, and (b) human infection is relatively rare, means (c) there's very little immunity in human populations. The lack of immunity/resistance is what makes it so dangerous when it does break out among humans. People can get severely ill, and breakouts can be, well, virulent. You hear the term pandemic bandied about -- with cause.
In terms of your own behavior:
It's still safe to be among pigs (of the animal sort), and that the odds against you becoming infected by handling an infected, living pig are extremely slim -- and with normal precautions, nil.
It's as safe as ever to eat pork. Your chances of getting piece cut from an infected animal remain about the same as ever (very small if you buy from a good packer), and getting a piece from an animal which was ever infected also about the same as ever -- around 30%.
160F is the nominal safety temperature for eliminating virus. You may want to kick your internal temperature targets for pork up to meet it -- if for no other reason than to elminate any cause for concern among your family and guests. We can all agree that food should be a source of comfort and not of anxiety.
Otherwise, you know the drll. Stay away from infected people. Observe cough and sneeze etiquette. Wash your hands often enough to make Adrian Monk happy. Keep yourself as healthy as possible otherwise. If you do feel like you're coming down with something -- stay home and take care of yourself. Unfortunately, the normal, seasonal "flu shots," won't touch this thing in terms of either cure or prevention.
For what it's worth, since the current outbreak started getting publicity, lean hog futures have taken a pounding. (ShroomGirl was interested). Most analysts predict a recovery once word gets out that infection is impossible from properly handled pork. Personally, I don't think people are that smart.
Yours in porkritude,
BDL
