The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has refined its policy on dealing with cases of the H1N1 Flu Outbreak Virus in swine herds.

The agency says its approach is consistent with the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and is based on research and observations since the first case of the novel flu virus was detected.

Those observations included that there is no food safety risk associated with the virus, no evidence that animals play a major role in the spread of the virus in humans and that the virus doesn't behave any differently in pigs than other common flu viruses in swine herds.

Based on this information, the CFIA has announced it will not quarantine herds. Affected animals will be dealt with using the same veterinary management and biosecurity practices used for other swine influenza viruses. This includes limiting opportunities for the virus to spread to susceptible animals.