Pork Board Recommends Flu Vaccination for Producers

October 8, 2008 — 

The Pork Checkoff is recommending that producers and swine farm workers should get a flu shot before flu season. Vaccination should help reduce the risk of bringing influenza virus onto the farm according to Dr. Liz Wagstrom, assistant vice president of science and technology for the Pork Checkoff.

In addition to vaccination, Dr. Wagstrom reminds producers about other practices that can help reduce the spread of infection including:

• Staying away from the farm if experiencing flu-like symptoms
• Good building ventilation
• Good hygiene and frequent hand washing
• Bird-proofing buildings and feed storage areas
• Enforcing biosecurity practices such as farm-specific clothing and footwear
• Chlorinating farm water if derived from surface waters that may be contaminated by exposure to migrating water fowl and wildlife.

Source: Pork Checkoff