My Speeches

H1N1 Virus in Central Alberta Pig Herd

Posted on May 04, 2009

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Battle River-Wainwright.

H1N1 Virus in Central Alberta Pig Herd

Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to underscore
the importance of relying on fact, not fear, in the midst of the H1N1
influenza outbreak. Over the weekend it was announced that a pig
herd in central Alberta had contracted the illness from a farm worker
who had recently returned from Mexico. As a result some countries
are now unnecessarily restricting imports of pig and pork products.
In fact, both the World Health Organization and the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agree that flu viruses
do not affect the safety of pork and warned against imposing trade
restrictions. The pigs, the family that lives on the farm, and the farm
worker have recovered or are recovering.
I’d like to stress that there is no threat to our food supply. Pork
and pork products are still safe to eat when handled properly and
prepared properly, as always. You cannot catch the virus by
consuming pork products.
I’d also like to commend the farmer who owns the pig herd. Due
to the diligence of the farmer, his veterinarian, and the government’s
immediate response, precautionary measures were put in place to
minimize the risk of the influenza spreading to other swine and
people. The farm was quarantined, and no other farms are reporting
herds with flu symptoms.
Agriculture and Rural Development has been working closely
with industry and the federal government since the outbreak in
people was reported, urging producers to be vigilant in their
biosecurity measures, to restrict people from visiting their barns,
especially if they’ve been to areas affected by the virus, and to report
any suspected cases. Agriculture and Rural Development will
continue to work with its counterparts to ensure that producers are
vigilant in maintaining their biosecurity practices and support the
efforts of the federal government to get borders reopened to Alberta
pork. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.