Bird flu, or H5N1, jumped the species barrier twice this spring. It infected dairy cattle and humans. Given the physiological similarities between humans and hogs, we said it was probably no longer a matter of “if” but “when” hogs got caught up in the mix as well. That “when” finally happened about two weeks ago when the first reported cases of H5N1 were diagnosed in a hog in Oregon.
Even though this hog was not in commercial operation, it still means that plans need to be put in place around the country, and we need to see how this disease will play out in hogs. For birds, the disease is a death sentence. If the animals are not properly and humanely depopulated, they will suffer a long and agonizing ordeal. In cattle and humans, the situation has not been as dire. Both species suffered a normal flu-like episode and regained strength with proper care.
However, we are just starting to understand what H5N1 means for hogs. Dr. Marisa Rotolo is the Director of Swine Health for the National Pork Board. She talked with us about what we know about the Oregon situation so far. Dr. Rotolo assures us that there is no threat to our nation’s pork supply and that this is not posing a huge threat to commercial hog operations.
Rotolo says this is a good reminder for producers to take a close look at their operation’s bio-security plan.
The hogs involved were not displaying any abnormal symptoms. This was a precautionary measure taken by the farm’s veterinarian. USDA is looking at the data very closely and has a few preliminary conclusions. However, more conclusive information is still hard to come by as there were very few hogs involved.
Dr. Rotolo is assuring both producers and the general public that the best minds in swine health are working on this situation to establish protocols and procedures if this develops further.
It is probably both a blessing and a curse that the data from infected hogs is so low. On the one hand, it doesn’t give us much to go on as far as determining the answer to every inevitable question. On the other hand, we seem to be very fortunate that this hasn’t blown up into anything bigger, and that we still have it under control.
You can always learn more about what the hog industry is doing to prevent this from becoming a bigger problem, and how the Pork Checkoff is working to provide research and information to our producers and consumers by visiting pork.org.
