Meat Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 00:05:00 +0000

ASF leads to conflict over pork imports in Philippines

Check the story . .

https://www.feedstrategy.com/african-swine-fever/asf-leads-to-conflict-over-pork-imports-in-philippines/?utm_source=Omeda&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=NL-Feed+Strategy+eNews&utm_campaign=NL-Feed+Strategy+eNews_20210418_1600&oly_enc_id=6800G1443478A9Z

Germany kills hundreds of pigs as dioxin troubles spread

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:59:00 +0000

German authorities ordered hundreds of pigs slaughtered after tests at one farm showed the animals had elevated levels of dioxin in their systems.

This is the first instance of evidence that the contamination has spread beyond poultry and eggs, according to authorities, who had already halted pork sales as a precaution when the contamination was first discovered. "We were specifically investigating this farm because they had bought their livestock feed from Harles & Jentzsch, the company that delivered tainted feed to all the other farms that had to be banned," said Lower Saxony's Agriculture Minister Gert Hahne.

The investigation into both Harles & Jentzsch and potentially infected farms continues, with 558 of the original 4,700 targeted farms remaining closed.

German pork and poultry banned by Korea – dioxin cited

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 01:21:00 +0000

There are no longer imports of pork and poultry from Germany to Korea. The Korean government has banned imports from Germany, citing high levels of cancer causing dioxin in animal feed as the reason for the ban.

Korean officials have stated that German meat products are currently quarantined, until further inspections are carried out.

GMP+ International has suspended the GMP+ certificate of the business Harles und Jentzsch GmbH in Uetersen in Germany as of January 6, 2011. Abnormally high levels of the contaminant dioxin were found in agricultural products made by the German company. The company manufactures ingredients for poultry and swine feed.

Russia has also been affected by the dioxin scandal; the country is restricting meats imported from Germany.

Avian Influenza in South Korea spreading across the country

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:43:00 +0000

South Korea has confirmed its first bird flu outbreak in the Gyeonggi region near Seoul making it the first case to be reported in the province surrounding the capital city in nearly three years.

The farm ministry said a duck farm in Anseong, 77 kilometers south of Seoul, tested positive for the virulent strain of the H5N1 avian influenza after birds started dying off over the weekend. Concerns are now being raised that the highly contagious disease is spreading across the country despite quarantine efforts.

"All 32,000 ducks on the (Anseong) farm have already been ordered destroyed on Sunday as a precautionary measure, with 55,000 other birds within a 500-meter radius to be culled," an official said.

He said other birds within a 10-kilometer area of the poultry farm will be barred from being sold on the market or moved, while front-line inspectors will carefully monitor birds for sharp hikes in sudden deaths and drops in egg production.

The Anseong outbreak is the ninth confirmed in the country this winter after the first bird flu cases were confirmed by quarantine authorities on Dec. 31. Latest figures from the ministry confirm that 194,600 birds have been culled at infected farms, with many more being destroyed to prevent the spread of the bird flu.

The Philippines eyes poultry growth target

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:03:00 +0000

The Phillipine government expects the value of poultry production to hit or even exceed the official growth target of 2% for 2010, with the first three quarters already recording a 3% increase before the seasonal boost in the last three months of the year.

"Given the growth of [local poultry production] in the nine months [that ended in September] and a surge in demand for the product in the fourth quarter because of the holiday season, we expect it to register a two per cent growth or even exceed it," Bureau of Animal Industry director, Efren C. Nuestro, said in an interview with Business World.

In the nine months to September, poultry production grew 3.01% to 36.69 billion pesos (PHP) from the same period last year, data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) show.

"A two per cent or even a three per cent growth can be easily achieved. We have a lot of chicken supply at present. If the sub-sector already grew by three per cent in the [nine months to September], it can easily sustain this until the end of the year," said Elias Jose M. Inciong, executive vice-president of the Union of Broilers and Raisers Association.

South Korea suffers bird flu outbreak

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

South Korea has confirmed the first outbreak of bird flu since May 2008 and more than 100,000 birds have been slaughtered as authorities try to contain its spread.
Health authorities have stepped up inspections of wild birds and urged poultry businesses to take extra precautions such as erecting nets around their farms to keep wild birds out.

South Korea has been hit by avian influenza three times, with the last outbreak in April 2008.

Meanwhile, the country is experiencing a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease. More than 660,000 cattle, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals have been or will be soon slaughtered, with related losses estimated at more than 400 billion won (350 million dollars).

Russia: Pork exports may climb to 60 times more

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:56:00 +0000

from: Pig Progress

According to the Agriculture Minister of Russia Yelena Skrynnik, the country may see its exports of pork and poultry sky-rocket to 60 times more by the year 2020.

Russia is aiming to become less dependent on meat imports from other countries.

Increase in pork exports
"We're keeping pace with the times and the technological process. By our estimates, export volumes could be up to 400,000 tonnes of poultry and 200,000 tonnes of pork. That's $1.5 billion to $2 billion a year," she said, compared with a combined 10,000 tonnes of exports last year.

President Dmitry Medvedev has stated that Russia imports a big portion of meats, and is one of the biggest importers of the product; however, it may become a leader in the production of meat if it puts in place the essential infrastructure.

"We need to start with something. In that case, Russia will see big prospects to become an influential player at the international food market," he said

Earlier this year, the President signed a new food security doctrine – stating 85% of meat consumed in the country to be produced locally by the year 2020 and added that having meat available for domestic consumption would still be a high priority.

According to the Agriculture Minister, meat production is expected to climb 5% in 2010.

Philippine hog output expected to drop

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:10:00 +0000

from: Business World
http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=14114&src=2

LOCAL HOG production is expected to dip by 3% this year due to the lingering impact of damage to commercial and backyard farms caused by storms that hit late last year, an industry leader said yesterday.

The government, on the other hand, expects at least 1% growth this year, citing the recovery of some backyard farms from storm damage.

"We are expecting a shortfall in production for this year, around 3% decrease from last year because of damage caused by Ondoy and Pepeng last year," Albert R. T. Lim, Jr., president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Phils., Inc., said in a telephone interview.

Mr. Lim explained that both commercial and backyard farms that sustained storm damage have not totally recovered.
"The farms still need additional support from the government, especially for backyard farms," Mr. Lim said.
He noted that about 70% of the swine population is raised in backyard farms.

But Felix G. Valenzuela, interim director of the Livestock Development Council, an agency attached to the Agriculture department, said in a separate phone interview that he expects the industry to grow by at least 1%.

"We’re expecting [the hog industry] to grow by at least 1% this year because of an expected recovery of backyard farms," Mr. Valenzuela said.

Even though there is a projected shortfall in production, Mr. Lim said current supply should be enough to meet local demand because of a shortfall in demand felt by the sector this year.

"There is also a shortfall in demand for pork, which is a good thing because of the shortfall in our production. Supply is sufficient for the local demand and we won’t be needing any imports at present," Mr. Lim said.

Hog production slightly increased by 0.35% to 455,480 metric tons (MT) in the first quarter from 453,890 MT in the same period last year, data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) show.

The nearly flat performance was due to "lower stocks of fatteners and tight supply of piglets" in the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions, BAS said.

Hog production inched up by 1.07% to 1.88 million MT in 2009 from 1.86 million MT the previous year, BAS said. But 2008 actually saw a production drop of 1.6%, a decline the government attributed to mortality due to hog cholera.

Phil. Gov’t bans imports of pork, poultry from S. Korea & Taiwan

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:02:00 +0000

From: Business World
http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=6281&src=2

THE GOVERNMENT has banned importation of pork from South Korea, as well as poultry and live birds from the same country and Taiwan, an Agriculture official said over the weekend.

Davinio P. Catbagan, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), said in a phone interview that the ban on pork, poultry products and live birds from South Korea was issued last Jan. 5, while the one on poultry and live birds from Taiwan was issued Jan. 26.
He attributed the ban to reports of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) as well as low-pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, in those economies.

Last Jan. 30, South Korea reported its sixth FMD case in a cattle farm north of Seoul.
The same country reported last Jan. 26 that tests conducted in December last year confirmed that about 26,000 ducks in a farm in Seosan City were infected with the H5 strain of bird flu.
Taiwan, on the other hand, reported on Jan. 21 that 7,000 chickens in a farm in Changhua County, Taiwan died of the virus.

Last year, the Philippines imported 114.36 million kilograms of pork, 7.6% of which came from South Korea. But the Philippines does not import poultry or poultry products from either South Korea or Taiwan.

BAI data show that the local livestock sector lost about P2.3 billion to FMD between 1995-2005. The country has not had any reported case of the disease since then.

The Philippines has a pending application with the World Organization for Animal Health for "FMD-free without vaccination" status for Luzon -- the remaining part of the country without such certification.

Philippine government bans German poultry

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:55:00 +0000

As a result of an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza, the government of the Philippines has temporarily banned imports of live birds and poultry products from Germany, as well as fromt the village of Saint Aubin du Plain in France.

The directive said the ban covers domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from the two areas.

On 16 November, France reported an outbreak in a duck farm in St. Aubin du Plain. The same influenza strain was detected in a bird farm in the state of Thuringen in Germany on 19 November.

"There is a need to prevent the entry of the low-pathogenic avian influenza virus to protect the health of the local poultry population," the orders read. "The department will immediately suspend the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance to import the above-stated commodities."

The department also said it has set up more than 625 avian influenza task forces, while conducting community-based workshops in a bid to raise public awareness over the risks still posed by the avian influenza virus, despite the higher profile taken by A(H1N1) due to the pandemic.

In 2008, the Philippines imported 994,275 kg of poultry and poultry products worth $1.090 mln from France, data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics show.

H1N1 flu found in South Korean pigs

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:13:00 +0000

South Korea confirmed that pigs infected with H1N1 flu have been found at domestic farms.

Infections were confirmed at five pig farms in Gyeonggi and North Gyeongsang provinces, the agriculture ministry said.

'For the first time we confirmed the presence of H1N1 flu in locally-raised pigs. We have... restricted movement of pigs in the areas,' a ministry spokesman told AFP.

The ministry has also found infections of the (A)H1N1 virus among pigs imported on November 11 from Canada, he said. An investigation is still under way to determine whether infections have spread from humans to pigs, it said.

'The virus appeared to have spread from humans to pigs,' Konkuk University veterinary professor Ryu Yong-Soo told Yonhap news agency.

Ministry officials, however, say pork is safe to eat as people cannot get flu from eating pork or pork products. A total of 117 people with the virus have died in South Korea.

Philippines: Lower demand, less processing

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:24:00 +0000

WorldPoultry.net
http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/philippines-lower-demand-less-processing-4660.html

The Philippine meat processing industry expects its 2009 production volume to drop by 20% from 2008, reports Asian Agribusiness Group.
While volume is down, higher prices will still mean a growth in sales, albeit a small one at less that 10%, said Francisco Buencamino, Executive Director of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc (PAMPI).

PAMPI had earlier aimed for an 8-10% increase in sales this year, but Buencamino said that “lower purchasing power of Filipinos” has dampened demand which led to lower volumes. He also said that the industry's imports of meat raw materials dropped by as much as 28%.

Pork exports probably no picnic in June and beyond: USDA

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:09:00 +0000

By Rita Jane Gabbett on 7/20/2009
MeatingPlace.com

Pork exports in May, at about 307 million pounds, were 36 percent below May 2008 exports, with Japan importing 15 percent less, Mexico importing 3 percent less and Russia importing 1 percent less than a year ago, according to USDA.

But it's likely that May exports — particularly to Mexico and Russia — did not register the full negative impacts of H1N1-related slowdowns in demand for U.S. pork, given that the disease did not come to the world's attention until late April, according to USDA's monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report.

"Normal lags in exporting U.S. pork products ordered before consumers became aware of the disease likely prevented the full demand effects of the disease from being felt until well beyond May," USDA warned.

Meanwhile, U.S. packers and swine finishers imported 36 percent fewer live swine from Canada in May than a year ago. "In general, country-of-origin labeling and an ongoing industry contraction in Canada are the key factors limiting U.S. live swine imports," the report stated.

Production and prices

USDA forecast lower pork production and lower prices for the balance of this year. Third-quarter commercial production is estimated at 5.47 billion pounds, almost 3 percent below a year ago, while fourth-quarter production is expected to be 6 billion pounds, or almost 2 percent below last year.

USDA forecasted third-quarter hog prices will average between $44 and $46 per hundredweight, down about 21 percent from a year ago. Fourth-quarter prices are expected to average between $39 and $41 per hundredweight, nearly 5 percent below last year. In 2010, prices are expected to average between $46 and $50 per hundredweight, almost 13 percent above 2009 prices.

Phil Ban on beef from The Netherlands lifted

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:59:00 +0000

By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 16:50:00 05/18/2009
http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20090518-205712/Ban-on-beef-from-The-Netherlands-lifted

MANILA, Philippines--The country has lifted the ban on the entry of beef and beef products from The Netherlands following confirmation from global animal health authorities that the exporting country has managed to control mad cow disease in its territory.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said in a statement on Monday that the ban was lifted based on the declaration by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) or World Organization on Animal Health that the classification of The Netherlands improved to the level of “controlled risk“ from mad cow disease or the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy” (BSE), a brain-wasting illness.

Yap noted that recent international guidelines set out by the OIE provided for certain measures under which all beef and beef products from animals of all ages might be safely traded.

As such, he said, the DA has been allowing the importation of beef from The Netherlands with the following conditions:

*Boneless and bone-in beef can be sourced from cattle of all ages devoid of any nerves and other BSE-specified risk materials;

*The beef, whether boneless, or bone-in, should come only from healthy
ambulatory and not downer cattle;

*The age of the slaughter cattle shall be certified by the government
authority; and,

*The slaughter date of the cattle or the production date of the beef shall be included in the packaging label.

“All shipments into the country of beef originating from The Netherlands not complying with these conditions shall be confiscated by Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major sea/airports,” Yap said.

Canada Reports 16th BSE Case

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:09:00 +0000

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced it has confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy in an 80-month-old dairy cow from Alberta.

In a statement, CFIA said no part of the animal's carcass entered the human food or animal feed systems.

This case was detected through the national BSE surveillance program. The animal's birth farm has been identified and an investigation is underway.

Canada remains a Controlled Risk country for BSE, as recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). "Accordingly, this case should not affect exports of Canadian cattle or beef," the agency stated.

Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF), which has long opposed U.S imports of Canadian cattle for fear of BSE exposure, noted that this cow would have been born in 2002, making it the tenth BSE-positive cow in Canada young enough to be exported to the United States.

Since 2007, USDA has allowed imports of Canadian cattle over 30 months of age as long as they were born after March 1, 1999.

Brazil: Sadia and Perdigão may merge

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:01:00 +0000

The two companies, which together slaughter more than 2 bln chickens and other birds a year, said they are in discussions for a merger that would rescue Sadia and create one of the world's largest frozen and processed food companies.

Sadia was crippled in 2008 by a bln-dollar. For Perdigão, Sadia's stumble is a chance for it to take over its main competitor on Brazilian store shelves.

Brazil's government's development bank could help finance a merger with as much as $750 mln, Citibank analyst Carlos Albano estimated in a report.

A tie-up of Perdigão and Sadia, with about $11 bln in combined annual sales, would rank as the 10th-largest food company in the Americas, it is reported.

Such mergers could intensify the rivalry with US firms such as Tyson Foods Inc., which last September announced an aggressive move into Brazil, buying 3 poultry firms. With low wages and costs, Brazil is attractive for food producers, and already exports more chicken than any country.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Pork imports from US not banned, traders say

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:06:00 +0000

By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:01:00 05/09/2009

Filed Under: Swine Flu, Foreign Aid
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has not banned pork and pork products from the US after all, according to industry leaders both in the US and in the Philippines.

This, despite the Department of Agriculture’s announcement in late April that it would restrict the entry of pork and pork products from countries with an outbreak of A(H1N1) virus as “a precautionary measure.”

“The Philippines has decided not to impose restrictions on US pork imports contrary to previous announcements,” US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) communications director Joe Schuele said in a report.

“The Philippines has decided to only ban pork imports from Canada due to the detection of the H1N1 virus in a swine herd in Alberta,” he said.

Canada reported the world’s first case of a human transmitting the new influenza virus to swine.

Schuele called it “a bit of good news” as US meat exporters were still reeling from bans imposed by major markets Russia and China.

The US is also worried about economic disruptions resulting from the A(H1N1) outbreak in Mexico, also a major market for these US products, even though the country remains “fully open” to US pork and beef.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) confirmed that its members may still import pork from the US “if there is a need.”

“There was some restraint in the sense that the applications for importation submitted by members took more time for processing recently but now they are progressing,” PAMPI executive director Francisco Buencamino said in an interview. “As far as I know the import restriction applies more to Alberta, Canada.”

Buencamino, however, could not say how much US pork was to be imported for canned goods and other processed meat products but said it was “minimal.”

“We also source locally so we don’t need to import so much from the US,” he said.

Buencamino also declined to comment on why the supposed import ban did not push through.

Pork export bans on flu fears unjustified: O.I.E.

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:53:00 +0000

(MEATPOULTRY.com, May 07, 2009)
by Bryan Salvage

PARIS — After several countries imposed trade restrictions on countries exporting pigs or products of pork origin that have declared human cases related to the new A/H1N1 influenza, the World Organization for Animal Health (O.I.E.) charged imposing such bans do not comply with international standards published by the O.I.E. and all other competent standard-setting international bodies for animal health and food safety.

On May 5, the first transmission of"A/H1N1" virus from human to pigs in a single herd was officially notified to the O.I.E. by Canada. The virus is the novel influenza virus "A/H1N1", but the disease linked with the "classical" swine influenza virus is different and is not notifiable to the O.I.E. since it is mild in pigs and the infection only rarely seriously affects humans.

"The O.I.E. will develop appropriate standards for this emerging disease," the organization said in a statement. "In the meantime, and until new standards have been adopted by its 174 member countries and territories, the O.I.E. recommends all animals from the currently infected Canadian farm be maintained in strict isolation and that quarantine from the farm not be lifted until it has been rigorously demonstrated by the Veterinary Services of the country concerned that there are no pigs infected with the "A/H1N1" virus at the farm. This recommendation would also apply to any other country that should experience a similar situation."

The O.I.E. iterated its recommendations already published jointly with W.H.O., F.A.O. and the W.T.O on May 2 regarding the safety of pork and pork products.

China bans pork from 17 more U.S. states on apparent flu fears

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:26:00 +0000

By Tom Johnston on 5/5/2009
MeatingPlace.com

China on Monday banned pork from 17 more U.S. states amid the 2009 H1N1 virus outbreak, according to USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The recent action brings to 36 the number of U.S. states that China has banned since late April. The latest were the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

The ban applies to fresh/frozen and heat-treated pork and pork products derived from swine raised or slaughtered in those states on or after May 3.

Meanwhile, Russia was among a number of other Eastern countries to add to or implement new bans following the flu outbreak.

On Monday, Russia announced that beef, poultry and pork produced on or after May 2 in South Carolina, except for heat-treated product, is ineligible. It has placed similar bans on at least 10 U.S. states since the outbreak began.

Kyrgyzstan on Monday banned all U.S. meat and poultry, while Uzbekistan banned all U.S. pork and pork products.

Pork safety

International health officials have reiterated that people cannot contract the H1N1 virus from eating pork and other meats.

Over the weekend, the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Organization for Animal Health and World Trade Organization issued a joint statement to that effect.

"In light of the spread of influenza A/H1N1 and the rising concerns about the possibility of this virus being found in pigs and the safety of pork and pork products, we stress that pork and pork products, handled in accordance with good hygienic practices … will not be a source of infection," the groups said.

The statement also urged veterinary authorities to work with human health counterparts to monitor pig herds and look for any signs of illness that may be linked to human cases of A/H1N1 influenza. On Monday, the United Nations also called on countries to carefully monitor their pig herds after pigs in Canada were infected.

Canada

Canada also has been the subject of numerous trade bans, most recently implemented by China. Philippines, Singapore, Honduras and several other countries also have closed their borders to Canadian pork.

Canada's biggest pork export markets, including the United States and Japan, have not followed suit. South Korea has banned live hogs from Canada.

Pig industry confirms ‘Pork is Safe’

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:22:00 +0000

“Pork is safe to eat and handle,” the US pork industry continues to assure people in the wake of a report from Canada that pigs in an Alberta pork operation contracted an H1N1 virus.

A worker who recently visited Mexico – and became ill with flu-like symptoms – is suspected of transmitting the virus to a pig.

“People cannot get the flu from eating or handling pork,” said Dr. Jennifer Greiner, director of science and technology for the National Pork Producers Council. “The flu is a respiratory illness, it’s not a food-borne illness.”

According to the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security the H1N1 flu strain that has been contracted by a number of people worldwide cannot be transmitted by eating or handling pork; it does not pose a threat to the safety of food.

Early yesterday, the World Trade Organization, the OIE and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization issued a joint statement saying pork is safe. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a statement after hearing about the situation in canada, “This is not a food-borne illness. The American food supply is safe and pork and pork products are safe.”

Swine flu crisis: summary of latest updates

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:00:00 +0000

From: Agence France-Presse | 05/04/2009 9:27 PM

Latest snapshot of the swine flu crisis, as of May 4, 2009, 18:52 GMT +0800

Main events of the past 24 hours in the swine flu crisis:

- Mexican authorities say the country is finally getting the upper hand on the A(H1N1) flu epidemic, and is poised to lift an economically crippling clampdown on public venues and activities on Wednesday.

- World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan warned in a newspaper interview that that an apparent decline in mortality rates did not mean the pandemic was coming to an end and a second wave may strike "with a vengeance."

- Mexico was to send a plane to pick up its nationals in China, which has put 70 Mexicans into quarantine out of fear of swine flu, prompting a diplomatic storm.

- The WHO said 20 countries have reported 985 cases of A(H1N1), including 25 deaths in Mexico and one in the United States.

- US health authorities said swine flu was now present in more than half the nation's states with 226 confirmed infections in 30 states.

- El Salvador and Colombia joined the list of countries with cases of swine flu, as the number of Spanish cases climbed to 40 and France reported two new cases.

- Egyptian veterinary authorities pressed on with a nationwide programme to slaughter the country's entire pig population, a day after clashes erupted with protesting pig farmers.

An overview of the current swine flu crisis:

OVERALL: The World Health Organisation says 20 countries have officially reported 985 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infections and 26 deaths.

WHO figures may differ from national authorities.

DEATHS

------

Mexico: 25 (government says 22)

United States: 1

CONFIRMED INFECTIONS (including the deaths)

--------------------

Mexico: 590 (government says 568)

United States: 226

Canada: 85 (government says 100)

Spain: 40 (government says 44)

Britain: 15 (government says 18)

Germany: 8 (government says six)

New Zealand: 4 (government says six)

Israel: 3 (government says four)

France: 2 (government says four)

El Salvador: 2

Austria: 1

Hong Kong: 1

Costa Rica: 1 (government says two)

Colombia: 1

Denmark: 1

Ireland: 1

Italy: 1 (government says two)

Netherlands: 1

South Korea: 1

Switzerland 1

NATIONS WITH PARTIAL OR TOTAL BANS ON PORK IMPORTS: Bahrain, Belarus, Chad, China, Croatia, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Lebanon, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates. Egypt has ordered the slaughter of pigs reared on its territory.

NATIONS WHICH HAVE SUSPENDED FLIGHTS TO MEXICO: Cuba. Argentina, China and Peru have banned flights from Mexico, prompting Mexico to advise Mexican citizens to avoid travel to China -- where dozens of Mexicans have been quarantined despite not showing symptoms, prompting a diplomatic row.

The WHO has not recommended travel restrictions or the closing of borders.

CDC H1N1 Flu Update

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:52:00 +0000

Update on Situation

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to an expanding outbreak caused by novel H1N1 flu.

CDC’s response goals are to:

Reduce transmission and illness severity, and
Provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.
CDC continues to issue and update interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. CDC will issue updated interim guidance for clinicians on how to identify and care for people who are sick with novel H1N1 flu illness. This guidance will provide priorities for testing and treatment for novel H1N1 flu infection. The priority use for influenza antiviral drugs during this outbreak will be to treat people with severe flu illness.
CDC has completed deployment of 25 percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to all states in the continental United States. These supplies and medicines will help states and U.S. territories respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against the novel H1N1 flu virus.
Response actions are aggressive, but they may vary across states and communities depending on local circumstances. Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and individuals can all take action to slow the spread of this outbreak. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.

U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection

As of 11:00 AM ET on May 4, 2009, CDC has confirmed 279 human cases and 1 death in 36 states:

Alabama: 4
Arizona: 17
California: 30
Colorado: 7
Connecticut: 2
Delaware: 20
Florida: 5
Idaho: 1
Illinois: 8
Indiana: 3
Iowa: 1
Kansas: 2
Kentucky: 1 (resident of Kentucky but currently hospitalized in Georgia)
Louisiana: 7
Maryland: 4
Massachusetts: 6
Michigan: 2
Minnesota: 1
Missouri: 1
Nebraska: 1
Nevada: 1
New Hampshire: 1
New Jersey: 7
New Mexico: 1
New York: 73
North Carolina: 1
Ohio: 3
Oregon: 3
Pennsylvania: 1
Rhode Island: 1
South Carolina: 15
Tennessee: 1
Texas: 41 (and 1 death)
Utah: 1
Virginia: 3
Wisconsin: 3
For more information, see the CDC H1N1 Flu website.

International Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection

For information about the global situation, see the World Health Organization website.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.
For more information on what you can to stay safe and healthy, check the CDC H1N1 Flu website.

Additional Updates on the CDC H1N1 Flu Website

To learn about other updates made to the CDC H1N1 Flu Website in the past 24 hours, please check the "What's New" page on the CDC H1N1 Flu website.

USA: Flu fears costs pork industry $2.5 million a day

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:51:00 +0000

(MEATPOULTRY.com, May 04, 2009)
by Bryan Salvage

DES MOINES, IOWA — The National Pork Producers Council has called for accurate reporting on the recent influenza outbreak, adding the U.S. pork industry is nearing the brink of financial disaster. All employed in the pork industry must address influenza outbreak misinformation, which already has exacerbated an economic crisis in the pork industry, N.P.P.C. said.

Incorrect reporting of the H1N1 flu as "swine" flu has compounded the economic squeeze the U.S. pork industry has experienced during the past 19 months, when producers lost an average of $20 per hog, N.P.P.C. continued. Producers have lost another $6 per pig, with average hog prices falling from $124 a head on April 24 to $118 on April 28, since the flu outbreak became a major news story. This decline has cost the industry approximately $2.5 million a day, N.P.P.C. relayed.

To date, much of the media still refers to the current influenza as "swine" flu although this flu virus is not of pig origin. Additionally, the World Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security have said this is not "swine" flu; they call it Influenza A or H1N1 flu.

"Speculative theories about the H1N1 virus spreading from pigs to humans are irresponsible and only contribute to unnecessary worry among U.S. citizens," said Dr. Jen Greiner, N.P.P.C. director of Science and Technology. She added this virus is very different from those found in pigs, and influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.

N.P.P.C. requested the H1N1 influenza not be called "swine" flu in a letter recently sent to the major broadcast media outlets and wire services. So far, the Gannett Company has agreed not to use the term.

Canada: Alberta finds H1N1 virus in hog herd

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:50:00 +0000

(MEATPOULTRY.com, May 04, 2009)
by Bryan Salvage

OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Although the H1N1 flu virus has been found in a swine herd in Alberta by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the food supply is not affected and Canadian pork continues to be safe to eat, C.F.I.A. said.

It is believed that the pigs were exposed to the virus from a Canadian carpenter who had recently returned from Mexico and had been exhibiting flu-like symptoms, according to C.F.I.A. Signs of illness were subsequently observed in the pigs. The individual has recovered and all of the pigs are recovering or have already recovered.

The C.F.I.A. is taking a precautionary approach while further testing is needed to more fully characterize the virus. The herd has been placed under quarantine, and the agency is working with public health colleagues to determine the most appropriate next steps to ensure that public and animal health remain protected. The chance these pigs could transfer the virus to a person is remote, the agency said.

Influenza viruses do not affect the safety of pork, previously added the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other scientific bodies.

Canadian pigs are tested for influenza viruses on an ongoing basis across the country during routine investigations into respiratory illnesses. The C.F.I.A. has been working with provinces, territories, the swine industry and private sector veterinarians to enhance monitoring of swine herds for signs of illness and to maintain enhanced biosecurity measures on farms across the country.

This news has not changed doing business with the U.S. "First and foremost, this detection does not change the situation here in the United States," iterated Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

No sick swine have left the Alberta farm and the animals and premises have been quarantined, Mr. Vilsack added. "We are working closely with our C.F.I.A. counterparts to be kept abreast of the situation, and will await the final confirmatory test results, which could take anywhere from five days to two weeks," he said. "Canada has handled this situation appropriately and taken the necessary steps and precautions.

"(This) discovery will not impact our borders or trading with Canada," Mr. Vilsack continued. "As prescribed by the World Organization for Animal Health guidelines, any trade restrictions must be based on science so at this time, we are awaiting confirmatory test results before considering any action."

The Associated Press recently wrote that China has now expanded its ban on imported pork and pork products to include those from Alberta. A notice on China’s web site states pigs or pork products sent to China from Alberta after the declaration would be destroyed. Shipments already in the country will be released only after being certified as safe. China's government has already banned imports of pork and pork products from Mexico and a handful of U.S. states.

USA Import ban on pork lifted, except Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Meat Matters) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:44:00 +0000

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:01:00 05/04/2009

MANILA, Philippines – The government has lifted the import ban on pork products from countries with cases of the deadly A(H1N1) virus, except in Canada, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said Monday.

“There is no outbreak of swine influenza… We can’t call this a swine flu problem that’s why today [Monday], I instructed the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to lift the temporary suspension on the importation of meat products,” Yap told reporters at the Senate, on the sidelines of a hearing on the A(H1N1) virus.

Yap said the ban on pork products from Canada was not lifted since authorities there were checking the possible transmission of the A(H1N1) from a human to a pig.

Last week, the government banned pork imports from Canada, the United States, and Mexico amid fears over the spread of A(H1N1), a strain of swine flu which is transmissible from human-to-human.

Health officials had said that humans could not contract A(H1N1) by eating infected meat. The virus is transmitted from human-to-human through droplets emitted when coughing or sneezing.

During the hearing on Monday, Doctor Davinio Catbagan, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry, said the agency would consult with the science community and experts to determine whether or not they could impose a mandatory vaccination on pigs against swine flu.

“What we are saying now is not all farms are vaccinating but maybe we can increase the dosage of the coverage area because there was a time that the use of swine influenza vaccine in pigs has not been monitored,” Catbagan told a hearing by the joint committees of health and trade on the A(H1N1) virus.

“But I think a mandatory [vaccination] for a wider population of the 13.7 million pigs all over the country could be considered,” he said.

Renato Eleria, chairman of the National Federation of Hog Farmers, who was also at the hearing, said he was “open” to Catnagan’s proposal.