KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- More and more cases of swine flu are popping up across the country, and that's raising some questions about the safety of pork products.
Our Fact Finder team spoke with an expert, who says that pork products are completely safe to eat. Dr. Steve Patterson of Northeast Veterinary Service says that to be safe, it's always important to cook pork products properly, to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Patterson tells Fact Finder that the strain of flu that's circulating now is a new hybrid strand, and is no longer the same as the original virus that came from pigs.
“It's strictly human to human transfer that's taking place.,” Patterson said.
And while it may be contained to humans, the new strain could pose a problem to the swine population. Patterson tells KTVO it can be passed from humans to animals.
“That's exactly what the swine industry is worried about right now. And so they're telling, definitely if you have workers that are ill send them home. We don't want this getting into the animal population,” he said.
Patterson says when it comes to staying healthy, it's important that people remember the basics—that includes a lot of hand-washing and staying home if you're not feeling well.
If you have questions about swine flu that you'd like answered, let us know by commenting below.
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