Canada-Pigs confirmed with swine flu.

CANADA-PIGS FOUND WITH SWINE FLU.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials have tentatively confirmed that pigs from a herd in Alberta, Canada, have tested positive for the H1N1 influenza strain currently causing illness in humans.

A Canadian carpenter who had been in Mexico, upon return, was exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

The carpenter did work on the Alberta farm, and subsequently the family and swine on the farm became ill, the United States Department of Agriculture said.

First and foremost, USDA said this detection does not change the situation in the U.S.:

- There have been no reports that the novel H1N1 strain currently causing illness in humans is in US swine.

- This is not a foodborne illness. The American food supply is safe and pork and pork products are safe. As is the case with all meat and poultry, safe handling and cooking practices should be used to kill any germs or bacteria that could make you sick.

- As a precaution, people with flu-like symptoms should not interact with swine, and swine showing influenza symptoms should be kept away from the public and brought to the attention of the State Animal Health Authorities or USDA. Proper biosecurity measures - as in any influenza situation - will protect against the spread of virus.

Additional details about the Alberta situation are that no sick swine have left the farm, and the animals and premises have been quarantined.

The swine and humans are recovering and appear healthy.

The USDA said it is working closely with CFIA counterparts to be kept abreast of the situation and will await the final confirmatory test results, which could take anywhere from five days to two weeks.

USDA said it is actively working to develop an H1N1 vaccine for swine, just as the CDC is doing for humans.