The H1N1 Virus was initially known (and in some cases is still known) as the “Swine Flu”. The current wave is purported to have originated from the pig farms in Mexico, hence the name “Swine” flu.
For this reason the consumption of pork world-wide has declined, as people associate getting the infection with eating pork. The truth cannot be further. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says humans cannot catch the virus by eating pork.
The H1N1 virus is not a food-borne virus, it is a respiratory virus. While the virus can be transferred from pigs to humans and vice versa, eating pork is safe. Literally, a pig would have to cough or sneeze on a person for it to be a threat. Pig farmers face the threat of humans making pigs sick.
It is estimated that the hog farming industry lost $90 million the first three weeks of April. Industry experts say a media swirl over the outbreak of H1N1 in Mexico, which the media dubbed “swine flu,” was to blame.
Very gradually, people are beginning to shift their diet back to include pork.