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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Virus-Wary Egypt to Destroy All 300K Pigs

USDA says American pork is safe; Russia, China ban imports

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(Newser) – The Egyptian government says it will immediately slaughter the country’s entire population of 300,000 pigs to protect against the swine flu, the AP reports. Egypt has stressed that it has no reported cases of the virus, though two infections have been confirmed in neighboring Israel. The move comes as countries around the globe look to restrict the import of pork products from the US.

China and Russia are banning imports from certain US states as the American government seeks to allay fears, USA Today reports. “It is perfectly safe to consume pork and pork products from America,” said Tom Vilsack, noting that fears have been misplaced. “This really isn't swine flu,” the agriculture secretary continued, and should be referred to by its scientific name, H1N1 virus—as President Obama did this morning.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.   (AP Photo)
A South Korean quarantine officer, left, checks the temperature of Japanese passenger against the possible infection of the swine flu at Incheon International Airport in Seoul.
A South Korean quarantine officer, left, checks the temperature of Japanese passenger against the possible infection of the swine flu at Incheon International Airport in Seoul.   (AP Photo)
An Egyptian carries a pig at a private farm in Cairo.
An Egyptian carries a pig at a private farm in Cairo.   (AP Photo)
An Egyptian Health worker sprays chemicals to disinfect local pigs in Cairo.
An Egyptian Health worker sprays chemicals to disinfect local pigs in Cairo.   (AP Photo)
Egyptian pigs.
Egyptian pigs.   (AP Photo)
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11 comments
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proxieme2
Apr 29, 09 10:49 AM CDT
That's idiocy. Reply
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+3
AllisonMW
Apr 29, 09 12:10 PM CDT
Call it idiotic if you want, and it is a bit extreme...but I do see that other countries are taking more of a stance than the US. All the officials are telling us to do is "wash our hands" and "stay home if you feel sick," something one should do anyway. Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
psycada
Apr 29, 09 1:25 PM CDT
That is because there really isn't much more to do than that, besides loading up on Vitamin D. Slaughtering 300,00 pigs is asanine. Where is PETA on this one?
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
OriginalMike007
Apr 29, 09 2:55 PM CDT
It is idiotic. They will slaughter all those pigs worth millions of dollars forcing their farmers to buy new pigs from other countries and not be one iota safer from this flu than before.
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IN RESPONSE:
jeebus
Apr 29, 09 5:21 PM CDT
Not everybody has the luxury of taking a day off when they're sick. Tens of millions of working Americans don't get paid sick days, and can't afford to miss work because of the flu.
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