A great article and interview with Dr. Ron DeHaven, CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, about the H1N1 virus (aka the swine flu) is on Brownfield's website - click here for the full report and audio.
DeHaven used to head the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service for USDA, and was there when bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) exploded into the limelight several years ago. So no, you're not going to fluster him.
Anyway, DeHaven noted that the H1N1 virus is "transmitted from human to human and, as far as we know right now, it does not involve pigs, livestock or pets."
He may be right in saying that we may never know where the hybrid virus originated. “It is in a family of influenza viruses that have thousands of different varieties or versions, this one, the H1 is most commonly associated with pigs and hence the name swine flu," he said.
He adds, though: “This particular H1N1 virus has no known origin back to swine.”
Be sure to check out the report and help set the record straight - AVMA has also put out a statement. For that, click here.
Some scientists are also beginning to believe this virus strain is fairly mild. Good news, for sure.
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