Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey and the State Veterinarian for Iowa Dr. David Schmitt today issued the following statements regarding the new H1N1 flu strain that has been called by many the “swine flu.” They reiterated that you cannot get the disease by eating pork and there is no evidence of this flu in the pig population of Iowa or any state. The State Veterinarian’s office is working with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Federal Veterinarians and those in private practice to have a system in place to monitor Iowa’s pig population for significant disease, and those efforts continue around the current outbreak. Research is underway by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine if the disease can be spread to swine, but in the meantime Northey and Schmitt are encouraging Iowa’s pork producers to exercise extra diligence in their long held bio-security practices to continue to protect the health of their animals.  If producers do observe any respiratory illnesses in their pigs, it is important that they do contact a veterinarian. Statements by Secretary Northey and Dr. Schmitt follow here: “There is no evidence that this strain of flu can be spread to pigs, but it is a good reminder to pork producers to continue their efforts to protect the health of their animals,” Northey said.  “Limiting access to your buildings, keeping workers that are ill away from the animals and contacting a vet if any of your pigs do show signs of sickness are all best practices that make even more sense in the current situation.” “I just want to remind Iowans that pork is safe to eat and our swine population remains healthy,” Schmitt said.  “The Department has been communicating with Iowa vets about the situation to help keep them informed and give them access to the most up-to-date information.”