JON AYLING
It appears the Influenza A H1N1 (combined avian-human-swine flu strain) is creating fear in the intensive pig farming industry , which is now trying to distance itself as much as possible from any link to this global virus. Unfortunately their representative body, Australian Pork Limited, does not appear to be concerned with misleading the public.
http://www.pork.com.au/currentEvent.cfm
The link above contains the following claims (below) with a corporate view to allaying people’s fears over consumption of pork meat.
‘Unsure or confused?
A flu by any other name. The emergence of so-called “swine flu” in countries around the world continues to be in the news with confirmed cases recently found in Australia. FACT: This influenza virus is a human virus more correctly known as A H1N1 virus . FACT: It was incorrectly named “swine flu” when in fact animals and pigs in this case have nothing to do with the spread of this influenza virus. FACT: This virus is communicable through human to human contact – and not animal or meat contact.’
First and foremost, Influenza A has elements of animal viruses within the current strain. In other words, there has been swine flu transmission from pig to human and bird to human at some point. At present the US Centre for Disease Control is examining the piggeries and local communities in Vera Cruz Mexico as the locality of the source. The claim by Australian Pork Limited that Influenza A is solely a human virus is definitely misleading and would equate to saying that the 1918 Spanish flu was just a human virus with no initial animal source, while the World Health Organisation now recognises the 1918 flu as originating from Avian influenza initially spread by bird to human contact.
Animals, particularly pigs are very capable of spreading this current virus, which is why the pork industry is fearful of infected human to pig contact. Tas. DPIW suggests people who have travelled to the Americas be kept away from piggeries as a precaution. Finally, although they are correct to say that meat products are safe (or should be if cooked or cured properly), having contact with Australian pigs that may become infected with influenza A in the near future due to inadequate biosecurity measures, could potentially unleash a far more virulent strain. Intensive farms are essentially a human precursor for disaster looking for a virus hellbent on mutation in order to increase its rate of transmission.
It is imperative that as a community we need to at least re-evaluate our current animal rearing practices, and the health risks associated with factory farming recognised by all concerned.
Jon Ayling
*Australian Pork Limited is the national representative body for Australian pig producers. It is a producer owned not-for-profit company combining marketing, export development, research, innovation and strategic policy development to assist in securing a profitable and sustainable future for the Australian pork industry.
