# 3861
Despite the protestations of pork producers around the world, the novel H1N1 virus is a `swine flu’ virus, and to little surprise, is now increasingly being found in herds around the globe.
Last May, after the discovery of the H1N1 virus in pigs in Alberta, the FAO (The UN’s Food & Agriculture Organization) strongly urged that increased surveillance of the world’s commercial swine herds take place.
Canada pig flu case shows need for surveillance: FAO
By Silvia Aloisi, Reuters May 3, 2009 9:01 AM
ROME -- The transmission of the new H1N1 virus from a man to a herd of swine in Canada is a reason for concern and confirms the need for increased surveillance of pig farms, the United Nations food agency said on Sunday.
The response has been less than overwhelming, with some reports here in the US that pork producers are doing less testing, fearing what they might find.
Fear over H1N1 detection brings down swine disease samples
Sep 25, 2009
DVM NEWSMAGAZINENational Report -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), concerned about a perceived drop in swine disease samples from pork producers, is urging veterinarians to continue monitoring herds for a variety of diseases, including the H1N1 influenza virus.
We’ve been watching a large, multi-farm outbreak among pigs in Norway this week, along with reports out of the US, Australia, Argentina, and Ireland in recent months.
It is increasingly looking like, if you look for it . . . you’ll find it.
How much infection is spreading `under the radar’, in areas that aren’t testing, is impossible to know.
Today Japan is investigating a possible outbreak among pigs in Osaka.
The concern is that pigs are considered excellent mixing vessels for viruses, and that a new `reassorted’ virus could emerge and become a human health threat.
Of course, that’s a pretty rare event. Why, nothing like that has happened since . . . last spring.
The latest, from Bloomberg, indicates that the pigs have tested positive for H1N1, but that further genetic tests are underway.
Japan Confirms First Case of Swine Flu in Pigs at Osaka Farm
By Kanoko Matsuyama
Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Pigs in Osaka Prefecture have contracted swine flu, the first case of the H1N1 virus being detected in Japanese livestock.
Operators of the farm in the western prefecture were advised to refrain from moving the pigs until the genetic tests are complete, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said today in a statement on its Web site.
The U.K., Norway, Ireland, Argentina, Canada and Australia have reported cases of the H1N1 virus in domestic hog herds, according to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week confirmed H1N1 in a pig in Minnesota, and the virus also has been found in turkeys in Chile.
