Home »
News Articles» No Foreign Animal Disease Found in Suspects Tested
No Foreign Animal Disease Found in Suspects Tested
Jul 5, 2007 10:30 AM
A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in a group of pigs delivered to a Minnesota processing plant from an Iowa livestock facility has turned out to be negative, according to a release from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
Samples were collected and shipped to Plum Island Animal Disease Center for analysis and turned out to be negative for FMD.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Information Service’s Administrator Ron DeHaven released an official statement indicating that tissue from a shipment of sick hogs from Canada turned out to be enterovirus and circovirus, two viruses already known to exist in the United States.
A total of 185 animals were identified as sick and isolated when they reached Hormel’s slaughter facility at Austin, MN. Another shipment of 169 head was placed in the same holding site, though they showed no signs of illness.
“Enterovirus and circovirus pose no threat to human health or food safety. Therefore, the USDA hold has been lifted for all animals associated with this investigation,” DeHaven says.
There was a lot to be positive about in the pork industry the last week of October. I realize it is difficult to be optimistic when you are still losing $25 to $30/head. I also realize that positive news at this point could be as dangerous as it is welcome. But facts are facts, and we must recognize them.
...
As I begin this week's column, I"m reminded of two different "flip side" statements that may help characterize the topic at hand. The first is the old Archie Campbell schtick - "That's good - no that’s bad," which I have used before. The second reflects President Truman's frustration with economists' incessant use of the qualifier - "on the other hand" - to introduce the contrary opinion on a given topic. President Truman once demanded in his usual colorful language: "Will someone please find me a *!&%$*?>
