Proliant Meat Products Unaffected by North American H1N1 Influenza “Swine Flu”

Ankeny, IA (April 29, 2009) – Proliant Inc. is committed to providing safe and high quality meat products. Proliant’s pork products are heated beyond the recommended cooking temperature for pork of 70°C (160°F) and are therefore safe for human consumption.

This “Swine Flu” is more properly designated as North American H1N1 Influenza Virus or Hybrid Virus Influenza. This virus is a genetic hybrid of human, swine, and avian viruses and has been identified as the cause of influenza in several countries.

Click here to view the full press release.

Highlights from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) position on North American H1N1 Influenza:

• This virus that is being called the swine flu is actually a mixture of human, avian and swine origin.
• The OIE believes that this flu should be called the North American Influenza - and not the “Swine Flu.”
• There is no evidence so far to indicate that this outbreak was preceded by an outbreak of the swine influenza virus (SIV).
• There is no case of infection in animals confirmed in the zones where the cases of human infection have occurred.
• It is not necessary to introduce specific measures for international trade in swine or their products.
• It is not necessary to consider that consumers of pork products are at risk of infection.
• There is no justification in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Code for the imposition of trade measures on importation of pigs or their products.
• There is no evidence this virus is transmitted by food.

Click the link below to read the complete OIE press release:
http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_090428.htm