Herd of pigs contracts human form of swine flu

A HERD of pigs in the Republic has contracted the human form of swine flu.

The Department of Agriculture has declined to reveal the location of the farm which has been sealed off from all unauthorised public contact.

Last night, agriculture officials said pig farmers should implement “bio-security measures” to protect their herds from infection.

The Department’s code of practice for H1N1 virus in pigs, which was engineered in consultation with pig producers, should be put into action on all pig farms, the authorities stressed.

The cause of the contamination, the first of its kind in this country, was understood to be a person who was carrying the H1N1 pandemic flu virus.

Agriculture authorities said the disease in pigs is normally mild, has minimal impact on meat production and has no significance as regards food safety.

Last night, the Food Safety Authority said swine flu in pig herds posed no food safety risk as it was not transmissible through pork or bacon products.

More than 3,000 human cases of H1N1 are being recorded each week and medical authorities are expecting this weekly average to accelerate.

The annual flu vaccine will not protect against swine flu, nonetheless the HSE has advised everyone at risk of annual influenza this winter to get vaccinated.

When swine flu vaccine is licensed it will be offered to everyone, starting with people with long-term medical conditions and healthcare workers. Details of the swine flu vaccination programme will be made available in the coming weeks, the HSE said.

Yesterday, the European Commission cleared two new vaccines to fight the swine flu pandemic in Europe.

The Commission said the vaccines will be authorised for use in all 27 EU member states.