Officials say that swine flu does not come from eating pig by-products - but in response to recent outbreaks, Russia has banned all meat imports
from several states, including Ohio.
Russia extended its ban on meat imports to Ohio and New York on Tuesday, adding them to a list that already included Mexico, Texas, California and Kansas, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Because the new strain of the swine flu virus has not been found in pigs, Russia's decision is irrational, said Greg Hargett, deputy director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Pork is a safe product to eat as long as it has been cooked properly
Hargett said. It is as safe as it has always been.
But even though tainted meat is not something we need to worry about, The World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on Wednesday. Phase 5 is characterized by a widespread infection from human-to-human into at least two countries in one WHO region.
As of yesterday evening, the U.S. had 109 confirmed cases and one death from swine flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Ohio Department of Health is still gathering information on possible cases, but as of right now there has been one confirmed case in Lorain County. 1
News
Laura Service
