Manitoba pork industry feels the pinch over AH1N1 flu fears

Manitoba's pork producers are being hit hard by the fear over AH1N1 flu, despite public reassurances by health officials that there is no risk from eating pork.

Prices have dropped since the AH1N1 flu virus was found in an Alberta pig herd last week. Canadian officials said Saturday (May 2) that most of the pigs at the central Alberta farm in question have recovered, but the herd was quarantined as a precaution.

Manitoba's chief veterinary officer Wayne Lees has stressed there is no evidence AH1N1 flu can be transmitted through the consumption of pork.

Canada's chief public health officer David Butler-Jones also weighed in on the issue on Wednesday (May 7).

Despite that, Manitoba hog breeders are having a hard time moving their product. Chris Tokaruk, general manager of Design Genetics Inc., a Manitoba company that breed hogs for local and international swine operations; said many of their global markets are drying up.

Tokaruk said that three key shipments have been postponed including one to Vietnam, adding that although Vietnam has not imposed a ban on live animals, the routing for the flights into Vietnam goes through South Korea, which has put a ban on live animals.

He said delays in shipment are essentially the same as cancellations because the pigs quickly grow out of the proper age range.