Information from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - 4/29/2009
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are
not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from
eating pork or pork products. Eating properly
handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork
to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus
as it does other bacteria and viruses.
What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused
by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza
in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low
death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among
swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the
late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The
classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was
first isolated from a pig in 1930.
How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people
and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from
pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity
to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits
housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu
can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal
flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission
through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza
virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu
viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
More information about Swine Flu can be found on the
CDC's website:
CDC
Key Facts About Swine Flu
CDC
Swine Influenza: General Information
