May 4, 2009

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) strongly counsels against the culling of pigs in the current situation with A/H1N1 influenza that started in North America.

Scientific information currently available to the OIE and partner organisations indicates that this novel A/H1N1 flu virus is being transmitted amongst humans; there is no evidence of infection in pigs, nor of humans acquiring infection directly from pigs.

The currently circulating A/H1N1 flu virus is not simply a swine flu virus (it has genetic material of human, avian and swine origin), and it is important to note that swine flu has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating pig meat or other products derived from pigs, the OIE said.

The OIE said the culling of pigs will not help to guard against public or animal health risks presented by this H1N1 flu virus and such action is inappropriate. Instead, countries should focus their efforts on appropriate disease surveillance and strengthening the general biosecurity measures applied at premises where pigs are handled and slaughtered.

The OIE is collaborating with its network of reference laboratories and collaborating centres, as well as with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in scientific investigations on the current situation and will, if needed, issue further advice regarding biosecurity and trade measures in due course. Current investigations will help to find out the pathogenicity of the circulating virus for animals shortly and will be the subject of further communication from the OIE.

In the meantime, the OIE advises Veterinary Authorities work in collaboration with human health counterparts to monitor pig herds for any signs of unusual illness with suspected linkages to human cases of A/H1N1 flu.