Posted April 28, 2009
Iowa Senator Tom Harkin held an emergency hearing today regarding the new influenza strain that has surfaced in the past several days as he works in support of the pork industry.
Harkin, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, also released a statement regarding the A/H1N1 virus and to remedy concerns over the consumption of pork.
“The A/H1N1 virus has caused concern for many in the health community, but it has also caused anxiety in the agriculture community, especially for hog producers in my home state of Iowa and across the United States,” Harkin said in the statement.
“This influenza virus has been called ‘swine flu’, but that is something of a misnomer – and it is misleading many people,” Harkin said. “It is important to point out that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) thinks that ‘swine flu’ is not an accurate name for the virus. This influenza strain should be referred to by its scientific name: A/H1N1.”
“At this time, no swine in the United States have been identified with this strain of virus. So I want to make clear that U.S. pork is safe to eat. As John R. Clifford, D.V.M., the deputy administrator for APHIS’ Veterinary Services’ (VS) program at USDA made clear at my hearing earlier today - and as the Center for Disease Control has previously stated - you cannot get this influenza from eating pork. People should continue preparing and thoroughly cooking pork just as they always have. Additionally, I urge our trading partners to pay attention to the science and not ban imports of U.S. pork,” Harkin concluded.
Russia has suspended imports of U.S. pork, beef and poultry from certain U.S. states and Mexico amid concerns of the hybrid swine, avian and human influenza as concerns about an international outbreak grow. China and the Philippines also have stopped importing U.S. pork.
The Russian ban applies to meat and poultry produced in California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas, where cases of the hybrid flu have been reported.
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