USDA finds pandemic H1N1 in Indiana commercial swine

By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pandemic H1N1 influenza virus has been found for the first time in a commercial swine herd, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Monday.

The sick herd was found in Indiana, the USDA said, noting both the pigs and their caretakers have fully recovered from the virus, commonly called swine flu.

"Because swine that have recovered from influenza viruses are safe to move to slaughter, the Indiana facility has continued its routine processing practices," USDA said.

The human form of the new H1N1 virus, which emerged in March and was declared a pandemic in June, is circulating the globe. Researchers at The Centers for Disease Control estimated last week that as many as 5.7 million people in the United States have been infected so far, with at least 1,300 deaths.

Last week, USDA said six pigs shown at the Minnesota State Fair in September had been confirmed as having had the pandemic H1N1 flu virus. The USDA found the virus in the first U.S. hog on Oct. 19 -- one of the six positives from the fair.

"It's expected that pigs will get this particular flu strain just like pigs every year get the flu," said Dave Warner of the National Pork Producers Council, who added he would not be surprised to see more cases of pandemic H1N1 in U.S. hogs.

"It's just not an issue. It's not unexpected," he said.

World health officials have stressed the flu cannot be contracted from eating pork.