Norfolk pigs confirmed with disease

Pigs on a farm in Norfolk have been confirmed as having a strain of influenza, commonly known as ‘swine flu’ in people, which follows earlier cases in Northern Ireland.

A statement said: “Routine scanning surveillance has confirmed that the strain of the virus found is virtually identical to strains currently circulating in humans. It is not uncommon for pigs to be affected by influenza. Influenza in pigs is not a notifiable disease.

“Voluntary measures set out in a new Code of Practice on influenza in pigs, drawn up by the pig industry, Defra, Devolved Administrations and other government bodies, are in place on the farm.”

Defra added that there is no food safety risk from the announcement, as pandemic H1N1 2009 has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly-handled and cooked pork or pork products.

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