Earlier in 2010, the CDC and U.S. Department of Agriculture finally implemented a surveillance system for pig-borne illness -- but the program requires the support of pork producers.
NPR reports:
"National Pork Producers Council ... spokesman Dave Warner acknowledged that some producers may be averse to reporting sick pigs because they're afraid that the government will quarantine them."
The study of pig farm workers and residents in Wisconsin found that 17 of 74 had antibodies to swine flu viruses in their blood, indicating they'd been infected. In contrast, only 1 of 114 blood samples taken from the general population harbored such antibodies.
What do these findings mean?
The species barrier between people and pigs may be easier for a virus to cross than previously thought. Also, a pig respiratory tract is receptive to both human and bird flu viruses, making the animal a potential breeding ground in which a mutant virus could evolve and possibly be transmitted to people.
Flu viruses do not discriminate among their human and animal hosts. In fact, influenza infects birds, pigs, people and other animals alike, and when the viruses infect different species they can swap genes, leading to new types of influenza viruses that contain a mix of swine, human and avian viruses all wrapped up into one.
Such was the case with the 2009 H1N1 virus, which contained genetic material from birds, humans and pigs, even though it was initially dubbed "swine flu."
In reality, true "swine flu" refers to the respiratory disease that occurs among pigs, and there is increasing attention being placed on these farm animals as a potential source of a new pandemic virus.
Just How Widespread is Swine Flu on Pig Farms?
Given that there are about 1 billion domesticated pigs around the world, humans have close contact with them, and the virus, like all flu viruses, is capable of spreading from pigs to people and from person to person, it's not unreasonable to suggest that pig farms could amount to "flu factories."
As the CDC states, "H1N1 and H3N2 swine flu viruses are endemic among pig populations in the United States and something that the industry deals with routinely."
As it stands there's no way to know exactly how many cases of swine flu occur on pig farms each year because the pork industry is keeping quiet. But given the close proximity that large numbers of pigs in factory farms are raised in, coupled with their often-poor health due to inadequate feed, inhumane treatment and stress, I wouldn't be surprised if it's rampant.
Currently the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are in the process of developing a surveillance system to monitor swine flu and other ailments in pigs, but if they really want to curb the spread of swine flu, abolishing factory farms and returning to small, family-run farms -- where pigs are kept healthy and raised in natural conditions -- would be the first step.
As in people, flu will spread like wildfire among animals that are immunocomprimised, unhealthy and crowded together in close quarters.
After reading this, one can imagine why Religious guidelines label the pig an "unclean" animal, and prohibit the consumption of pork.
1. Pork prohibited in Qur’an
The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places.
It is prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.
“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah.” [Al-Qur’an 5:3]
The above verses of the Holy Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why pork is forbidden.
2. Pork prohibited in the Bible
The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus:
“And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you”.
“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you.” [Leviticus 11:7-8]
