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Texas Pig Farmers Feeling Swine Flu's Impact

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Apr 29, 2009 5:35 pm US/Central

Texas Pig Farmers Feeling Swine Flu's Impact

By Arezow Doost
ANNA (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: A pair of pigs sniff the air from their pen in Cabot, Vt., in this July 23, 2007 file photo.
Toby Talbot/AP

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As the swine flu spreads, it is becoming a huge headache for the pork industry.

North Texas pig farmers say they are worried about the impact on their business because of the misperception that it's possible to catch swine flu by eating pork.

"I'm actually an advertisement for eating pork because that's all I eat," explains J.R. Fortner.

The Fortner's farm is in Anna, in Collin County.

The family is raising about 100 pigs and say they are around the animals all the time.

"I don't feel sick," says Fortner.

He does admit he cringes every time he hears someone say "swine flu." He says he's noticed hog prices have already fallen sharply.

"I kind of scares me, what it will do to the market," says Fortner. "It's going to hurt me and my bottom line."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made it clear that you cannot get swine flu from eating pork.

There have been efforts to change the name to H1N1 influenza, but the term "swine flu" appears to be stuck in the public's consciousness.

In the meantime, he's making everyone wear plastic booties before stepping in one of the barns.

He is also keeping visitors out, especially those who have recently returned from Mexico.

Federal health officials say the current strain of the virus appears to have originated in Mexico. The country has also reported more cases of the disease than any other.

Fortner hopes it's only a short-term problem.

"I'm still eating pork and I'm okay," says the farmer.

He just wants the term "swine flu" to disappear.

Several countries including Russia and China have banned North American pork products.