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"Illinois pork producers have a long history of good animal care
and management," says Phil Borgic, president of the Illinois
Pork Producers Association and a pork producer from Nokomis. "We
rely on leading international and governmental agencies
responsible for managing the H1N1 flu response to present
factual and accurate information. However, we also want to
(assure) the public that, to date, there have been no reports
that the influenza virus currently causing illness in humans is
circulating anywhere in the U.S. swine herd."
Illinois pork producers take many precautions and vigilantly
monitor their swine herds for any indication of illness or
disease. In fact, the very systems employed by producers to
raise their pigs allow them to better protect their animals from
extremes in weather, predators and exposure to elements that may
make them sick. Because many pork producers operate a closed
production system, they can monitor and track the health of each
pig in their care, which allows them to provide a living
environment that is conducive to a healthy life for their
animals.
"We take our job in providing the people of Illinois and the
greater United States with safe, affordable and wholesome pork
products very seriously," says Borgic. "In doing so, it is
imperative that we provide our animals with a safe living
environment to ensure the health and well-being of our pigs."
In consultation with their local veterinarians, producers are
able to provide animals with a safe, healthy living environment.
With the help of their vets, producers can better prevent and
treat disease as well as ensure their animals' overall
well-being. Because the animals live in a controlled
environment, the veterinarians and producers are able to create
treatment plans for individual animals and better monitor their
recovery and overall health.
While the exact origin of the most recent H1N1 influenza
virus is still under investigation, there is no indication that
this virus originated on a farm. This virus is transmitted via
person-to-person contact and has not been linked to
swine-to-person contact.
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According to the World Health Organization, the World Organization
for Animal Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and the U.S. departments of Agriculture, Health and
Human Services, and Homeland Security, the H1N1 flu strain that has
been contracted by a number of people worldwide cannot be
transmitted by eating or handling pork; it does not pose a threat to
the safety of food.
For more information about the pork industry and the H1N1 flu,
visit factsaboutpork.org.
Additional information on the H1N1 influenza virus is available at
www.pandemicflu.gov.
The Illinois Pork Producers
Association is an agricultural trade association representing
more than 2,900 pork producers throughout Illinois and the Illinois
pork industry, which contributes more than $1.7 billion and more
than 7,800 jobs to the state's economy. IPPA is comprised of county
pork producer organizations in approximately 20 counties throughout
Illinois. IPPA is an affiliate of the National Pork Producers
Council and the National Pork Board.
[Text from file received from
Illinois Pork Producers Association] |
