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Last updated on Tuesday, April 28, 2009
(WESTFIELD) - Just because it’s called swine flu doesn’t mean it’s a “pig” thing.
Purdue swine production medicine professor Sandy Amass says the name "swine influenza" means the researcher who first isolated the viral strain found it in pigs.
The H1N1 strain that is creating worldwide concern right now was isolated in 1930.
Amass says flu strains constantly mutate and the current mutation is one that has never been seen before. Amass says this strain appears to only be spread by humans and has not appeared in pigs at this time.
However, Amass says since pigs can get the flu just like humans, pork producers are being encouraged to check their live stock regularly and take any pigs who may appear sick to their veterinarian for testing.
Amass adds we should not let the term swine flu prevent us from eating pork.
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