First U.S. Case of H5N1 in Swine Confirmed in Oregon

(WASHINGTON D.C) — USDA and the Oregon Department of Agriculture have confirmed the first case of H5N1 avian flu in swine on Wednesday. The positive case was found in a backyard farming operation in Crook County, Oregon that had a mix of poultry and livestock, including swine.

According to a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) news release, the Oregon Department of Agriculture announced on Friday, Oct. 25, that poultry on this farm represented the first H5N1 detection in Crook County, Oregon. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories also confirmed one of the farm’s five pigs to be infected with H5N1.

According to APHIS, “the livestock and poultry on this farm shared water sources, housing, and equipment; in other states, this combination has enabled transmission between species.” USDA says that there is no concern about the safety of the nation’s pork supply as a result of this finding. None of the animals entered the food supply chain, and they weren’t intended for the commercial food market. Owners of backyard flocks are advised to keep wild birds away to prevent the spread of bird flu as well according to USDA APHIS.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) also confirms there is no food safety concerns about the nation’s pork supply after the detection of H5N1 influenza in swine on a small backyard farm in Oregon. “The confirmed case in Oregon poses no threat to consumer health or food safety; properly handled and cooked pork products remain safe for consumption,” said Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO. “The entire pork industry remains committed to safeguarding food safety and human and animal health.”

NPPC continues to work closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services and pork industry stakeholders on disease surveillance programs. In fact, according to an NPPC news release the pork industry has worked alongside APHIS since 2009 to “carry out the swine influenza surveillance program to identify influenza viruses circulating in swine, proactively detect reassortment viruses that could impact public health, and gain knowledge to contribute to improved animal health diagnostics and vaccines.”

“Pork producers have always been proactive and diligent about implementing biosecurity plans as part of their daily production practices to assure animals wellbeing and food safety,” said Lori Stevermer, NPPC president and Minnesota pork producer. “This detection serves as a reminder for producers of all sizes to understand and address influenza virus risks.”