With all the attention being given to the swine flu (now called H1N1 flu - see below), owners of pot bellied pigs and other pet pigs may be worried about their pigs as well as their own health. My advice: check with your veterinarian for advice on protecting your pig. However, do not panic, and do keep in mind that this virus may be called the swine flu, but it is simply due to the characteristics of the virus - it is not thought that pig-to-person transmission is a concern, or that the virus itself is is even a major concern for pigs. Indeed, on the
AVMA FAQ about this virus, it is stated that no pigs in the US have been found to be infected at this point.
Edited to update: as of May 3, pigs in a herd in Alberta Canada were found to be infected. They were most likely infected by a farmer that was ill after having recently returned from Mexico; the pigs have been quarantined and are recovering, and this case doesn't change advice regarding H1N1 and pigs. Clearly pigs can be infected, but there is no call to get rid of pigs to prevent the spread of this virus.
In addition, as of April 30, 2009, the World Health Organization officially stopped calling this disease swine flu, switching to the more technically correct terminology of Influenza A (H1N1), while the CDC has (kind of) switched to the term H1N1 flu. While I doubt the term "swine flu" will go away, the Huffington Post reports that this move was made largely as an attempt to protect both pigs and the pork industry, because despite the name of the flu, pigs do not appear to be involved in the spread of this virus (and even if the were, pork products would not be a risk). Hopefully it will save some pigs in line to be slaughtered as a preventative measure. In any case, if you have pet pigs, call your vet for the most current information on protecting your pigs (or, of course, if you think your pig may be sick for any reason).
More on "swine flu," including why not to panic, can be found in this Swine Flu FAQ from About.com Guide to Patient Empowerment, Trisha Torrey.
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