Tom Vilsack, our not-so-trusty Agriculture Secretary, is, once again, spewing words from subsidized special interest groups.

Apparently, the USDA has confirmed the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) virus in some Minnesota pigs.  And Mr. Vilsack, along with “pork industry experts,” is worrying about profit margins.

“We have fully engaged our trading partners to remind them … that there is no scientific basis to restrict trade in pork and pork products.  People cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products. Pork is safe to eat.”

Officials have also said that the infection of the Minnesota pig “doesn’t indicate an infection of commercial herds because show pigs are in separate segments of agriculture than the swine industry.”  Separate, as in across the way from the swine barn?

Dave Warner is a spokesman for the National Pork Producers Council.  He says that industry groups are waiting to gauge consumer responses, but are concerned about US trade partners reacting adversely to the news.  He seems to think that an ad campaign (or other steps) is needed to reassure consumers.

Pigs who are infected can pass influenza viruses to other pigs in the same herd.  If and when that happens, the ill animals are treated with aspirin to reduce the fever “but otherwise generally let the disease run its course through the herd,” which takes about a week.

The producers let the swine flu run rampant throughout the herd.  Unbelievable.

After that, the pigs “can be safely sent to slaughter or other farms.”  Industry folks have been on a campaign to reassure the public that the appearance of the H1N1 in domestic swine poses no danger to the public.

No danger.  Uh, last time I checked, pork was not safe to eat.  Eating pigs causes diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, just to name a few.  The flu exists primarily because pigs are raised as food.  Just saying.

But what can we really expect from our trusted elected officials?  After all, Mr. Vilsack is a politician, not a scientist.  And the folks who head up the swine industry?  Obviously they’re not in for the profit- as evidenced by how humane we treat the “farmed” animals.  Nope, I totally think we could trust them.  Right?

via The Associated Press