For the first time in the U.S., a pig has tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA said it’s awaiting results for two other pigs from the same farm in Oregon, while another two tested negative.
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Officials said the pig that tested positive did not show any signs of illness. They added the five pigs were tested for H5N1 out of an abundance of caution after other animals from the same farm had tested positive for the virus.
Officials said while there are no concerns about the safety of the U.S. pork supply, the positive test is concerning because pigs can get bird flu and human viruses at the same time, which might create strains of the virus that infect humans more easily.
Meanwhile, the H5N1 bird flu continues to spread rapidly in dairy cows across the nation.
[craig nigrelli]
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE U-S — A PIG HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE H-5-N-1 BIRD FLU, ACCORDING TO THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT.
THE U-S-D-A ALSO SAYS ITS AWAITING RESULTS FOR TWO OTHER PIGS FROM THE SAME FARM in oregon, WHILE ANOTHER TWO TESTED NEGATIVE.
Officials SAY THE PIG THAT TESTED POSITIVE DID **NOT** SHOW ANY SIGNS OF ILLNESS.
THE U-S-D-A SAID THE FIVE PIGS WERE TESTED FOR H-5-N-1, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, BECAUSE **OTHER** ANIMALS FROM THE SAME FARM HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR IT.
OFFICIALS SAY WHILE THERE ARE **NO** CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE U-S PORK SUPPLY, THE POSITIVE TEST IS CONCERNING BECAUSE PIGS CAN GET BIRD FLU AND HUMAN VIRUSES AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH MIGHT CREATE STRAINS OF THE VIRUS THAT INFECT HUMANS MORE EASILY.
MEANWHILE — THE H-5-N-1 BIRD FLU CONTINUES TO SPREAD RAPIDLY IN DAIRY COWS ACROSS THE NATION.
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