Pork Producers Relieved Over Virus Name

Unfortunately for most of us there is a new flu strain that’s been found in at least five different states this winter. But at least this time the new strain has been properly named, and that couldn’t make the pork industry happier. This new virus is called Influenza A, or H3N2V and is a non-seasonal influenza. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have new naming protocol for these variant viruses, which are designated with the letter “V”. Dr. Jennifer Koeman, the Director of Producer and Public Health with the National Pork Board, says “this really accurately reflects better to communicate to consumers that pork and pork products are safe.” Two years ago the H1N1 virus was misnamed the “swine flu” with damaging results for pork producers due to the resulting and unnecessary consumer hysteria and shunning of pork products. There have only been twelve cases of this new flu strain reported so far and it does not appear to be highly contagious. As we found out two years ago nothing is as contagious as consumer panic spread by rumor, false alarms, and confused and inconsistent communications from government entities.