On Saturday Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials tentatively confirmed that swine at an Alberta farm tested positive for the H1N1 virus strain. These are the first cases found in swine. A carpenter that had recently been to Mexico exhibited symptoms while working on the farm. The swine have already begun to recover and no swine have left the premises as CFIA has quarantined the farm.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says this detection does not change the situation in the United States, that no U.S. swine have been infected and emphasizing that this is not a food borne illness.
"We are working closely with our CFIA counterparts to be kept abreast of the situation, and will await the final confirmatory test results, which could take anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks," Vilsack said. "Canada has handled this situation appropriately and taken the necessary steps and precautions. The discovery will not impact our borders or trading with Canada. 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."
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