Maryland Department of Agriculture

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
• People cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food.
• Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
• No food safety issues have been identified, related to the flu.
• Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the flu had contact with hogs.
• The virus is spreading by human-to-human transmission.

 The CDC recommends the following measures to prevent the transmission of flu: 
•  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 frequently and use alcohol-based sanitizers.
•  Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.
•  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
•  Try to stay in good general health.
•  Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Because this is primarily a human health concern, the best source of current information about swine flu and the current situation as well as actions you can take to protect yourself from exposure and illness is from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

As the state’s primary animal health agency, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is taking proactive surveillance and outreach measures to detect influenza in swine should it be present in Maryland.  Diagnostic laboratory staff are testing swine samples for influenza when samples are presented for any reason.  Veterinarians and field staff are reaching out to livestock auction operators, owners of swine, and veterinarians about biosecurity measures and signs of illness, what to do if an influenza-type illness is present, and providing references for additional information.

If you own swine, consider the following practices to enhance the biosecurity on your farm to prevent the disease from being transmitted to your herd:
• Maintain strict biosecurity.
• Prevent sick workers from entering swine facilities – have them stay home and call their doctor
• Workers should shower and change into farm-specific clothes and shoes before entering swine facilities. 
•  Establish, implement and enforce strict sick leave policies for workers presenting influenza-like symptoms.
•  Recommend that workers with symptoms be seen by a medical provider immediately.
•  Restrict the entry of people into your facility to only workers and essential service personnel.
•  Prevent international visitors or worker who has traveled internationally within the past month from entering your facilities. If this is not possible, require facemasks and gloves upon entry.
•  Ensure adequate ventilation in facilities to minimize re-circulation of air inside animal housing facilities. 
•  Vaccinate pigs against the influenza virus.  Vaccination of pigs can reduce the levels of virus shed by infected animals.
• Recommend that all workers are vaccinated against the seasonal influenza virus.
•  Contact your swine veterinarian if swine exhibit flu-like or respiratory illness, especially if the onset or presentation of the illness is unusual.  
• Maryland Department of Agriculture regional laboratory or MDA headquarters at 410-841-5810, after you have contacted your veterinarian.

Animal Health links for H1N1 influenza information for agricultural producers
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
www.aphis.usda.gov
American Veterinary Medical Association
www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/swine_bgnd.asp
American Association of Swine Veterinarians
www.aasv.org/
National Pork Board
www.pork.org

World Organization for Animal Health

www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm