Tuesday, May 5, 2009

First case spread to pig from human

Alberta carpenter just returned from Mexico

MAY 5, 2009 - THE EDMONTON JOURNAL - Canada -
excerpt

"The carpenter who spread swine flu to pigs while working in a barn on a central Alberta farm had just returned from Mexico, where he was helping to build a church, chief provincial veterinarian Gerald Hauer said. The man was so ill with the flu that he had to go home early on April 14. The H1N1 virus is believed to have lingered in the barn, spreading through the 2,200 pigs in the herd much as it spreads among people: The carpenter either came into contact with an animal or touched something a pig then touched.

The provincial veterinarian's office was notified about the infected pigs 14 days after the animals were exposed to the carpenter. But officials say they were "promptly" told about the sick pigs once media reports circulated about human swine flu cases in Canada."

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