H1N1 Flu Facts

The World Health Organization has just recently declared a Type A H1N1 influenza pandemic since there are now close to 30,000 infections worldwide.  This is the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.  The pandemic declaration confirms that a new flu virus is out there and is circling the globe quickly. 

Unfortunately, this virus was originally misnamed “swine flu”. This misnaming may well cost the U.S. Pork Industry $400 million in lost sales, exports and overall port consumption. The Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization has renamed the virus Type A H1N1 influenza. Continuing to incorrectly call this virus “swine flu” is not only misguided but also devastating to the pork industry that was already struggling with low pork prices. Researchers have confirmed that this new flu strain is a mixture of human, pig and bird genes. Basically, it is a mixture of a mixture. Some of the genes in this flu strain are of Eurasian origin, which have not been previously identified in North America.

H1N1 influenza is a respiratory illness not a food-borne illness; it is strictly a disease of the respiratory system. Therefore, people cannot get the flu from eating or handling pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe. There are no food safety issues related to this hybrid flu. This hybrid virus is very, very different from that found in pigs. The hybrid virus has never been identified in hogs in the United States. At this point, there is no evidence that any of the people infected with the H1N1 influenza had contact with hogs.

The hybrid virus is contagious and is spread by human-to-human contact when an infected person coughs or sneezes sending contaminated droplets through the air. It can also be spread from contaminated objects to a person (when something is touched that has been contaminated with the virus), and then hands are brought to the mouth, nose or eyes.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

Stay informed.  Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.  Remember even though H1N1 has been billed as the Swine Flu it has no relation to pork products and again is not a foodborne illness. Take everyday actions to stay healthy. Eat and drink right and get plenty of sleep to help keep yourself healthy and boost your immune system. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.   Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures. Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety. Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information, or check the CDC website at:  http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/#stay_healthy