Interim Guidance for Workers who are Employed at Commercial Swine Farms

The CDC has issued interim guidance for commercial pig farm workers on preventing the spread of influenza A viruses, including the 2009 H1N1 virus.

In October 2009, the first case of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in a pig in the United States was confirmed. Additionally, pig infections with 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have been found in other countries.

The interim guidance is issued with the goal of preventing the spread of this novel virus or any other influenza (flu) virus from people to pigs and from pigs to people. The recommendations are based on what are deemed optimal precautions for protecting workers exposed to pigs with known or suspected flu infection on production premises AND for protecting pigs from people with flu.

Items addressed in the recommendations include among others:

• Recognizing the signs of flu in pigs

• Preventing transmission of influenza viruses from pigs to people
• Preventing spread of flu virus from workers to pigs
• Surveillance and monitoring of workers' health

View the guidance in its entirety at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_commerical_settings_with_pigs.htm