3 May 2009
DAFF09/235B

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke today said the Government was aware of a statement issued by Canadian authorities claiming the H1N1 virus may have been transferred from a human to pigs in Alberta.

The claim is being monitored and assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

As with all aspects of the current H1N1 outbreak, the Australian Government will closely assess the latest advice from the WHO and the OIE.

According to a joint statement issued over the weekend by the WHO, OIE, World Trade Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization: 'To-date there is no evidence that the virus is transmitted by food.'