H1N1 Again

I wasn't too far off with my posts below, was I?

H1N1 continue to disrupt Ohio and other swine markets.

MEDIA STATEMENT

OHIO’S HOG FARMS SUFFERING FROM MISNAMING OF H1N1 VIRUS

COLUMBUS – The following statement was issued today in response to the announcement from the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise the incidence of Influenza A (H1N1) to a pandemic level. The statement can be attributed to Dick Isler, executive vice president, Ohio Pork Producers Council.

“Like all consumers, Ohio’s hog farmers are concerned about the spreading of the H1N1 virus and the announcement from the WHO today.

“That being said, we are troubled by the continued misnaming of this virus as the ‘swine flu’. The negative effect of the incorrect association of the influenza virus to hog farms has been devastating to our industry in terms of sales, exports and overall pork consumption. Ohio’s hog farmers are in jeopardy and many farms may be forced into bankruptcy if this crisis continues.

“It cannot be repeated enough – this virus has not been found in any pigs in the U.S., and groups like the CDC and U.S. Department of Homeland Security have called for the virus to be named by its strain, H1N1. Despite the fact that health and food experts alike have definitively stated that people cannot be exposed to this virus from eating pork products, overall pork consumption has fallen since the virus was found.

“Hog farmers are suffering huge financial losses – which increase every time the virus is incorrectly called the ‘swine flu’. Since the virus was found, average industry losses have increased by $10 per hog due to the misunderstanding about the relationship between pork and the virus.

“A report from the Congressional Research Service has found that misnaming the H1N1 influenza outbreak could cost the U.S. pork industry up to $400 million in the next few months. The National Pork Producers Council has predicted that the potential doubling of financial losses from the effect of the virus could cause enough hog farmers to go out of business to reduce the overall pork population by five percent.

“Ohio’s 4,100 hog farmers remain committed to producing safe, wholesome, high-quality pork for customers and being vigilant in protecting the health and well-being of our herds.”

FOR INTERVIEWS: Contact Hinda Mitchell or Diane Hurd, 614/224-0600, or Dick Isler at 614/882-5887. Council officials and hog farmers are available for interviews.

EDITORS’ NOTE: Ohio’s hog farmers urge you to modify your coverage of the H1N1 virus, if you have not done so already, to use H1N1 influenza virus references in place of references to the “swine flu”.

My neighbors and friends are suffering from this misnaming. It reminds me of Oprah and hamburgers, that cost my parents a lot of money right when they needed it.

Between HSUS and H1N1 Ohio hog farmers are being slaughtered financially. This is all out of media minsinformation and miscommunication.

It makes me sick and I don't mean H1N1.

Be a smart consumer, eat more pork, consume more milk, cheese and ice cream. Livestock farmers really need it right now.

LuAnn just went Krogering and brought home a bunch of half priced pork ribs. They will cook all day, we will finish them on the grill tonight and the family will love it.

I hate to enjoy off someone elses suffering.

Ed Winkle