The confirmation of the H1N1 swine flu virus in a herd of Irish pigs does not pose a food safety threat to consumers, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said.
The authority warned the public to be mindful of good hygienic handling practices and to cook products thoroughly prior to consumption, but said members of the public need not be concerned about eating pork.
The pigs became infected with the pandemic H1N1 influenza strain after coming into contact with a sick worker on the farm in Co Cork.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the pigs were being monitored as high-risk following confirmation of the virus in a worker on September 22nd.
The H1N1 influenza strain was detected in 40 dry sows from a breeding herd of 650 sows and 2,400 piglets, the OIE said.
Movements of pigs off the farm has been stopped voluntarily since September 18th in accordance with a Code of Practice previously agreed between the Department of Agriculture and stakeholders.
The FSAI also reminded consumers that there have been no reported human cases of swine flu in the world that have been linked to the consumption of properly cooked pork or pork products.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food confirmed it was the first pig herd to have tested positive for the swine flu. It said this is not an unexpected event given the widespread occurrence of the pandemic virus in humans and the possibility for occasional transmission from humans to pigs.
Earlier this month, the pandemic H1N1 influenza strain affected 4,500 hogs at a piggery in Northern Ireland