Dear United Fresh
Members,
In response to recent member
questions surrounding the outbreak of human-communicable swine influenza A,
United Fresh has been in communication with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) as well as other government agencies as we work to bring you
the most current information on the situation.
Please review the following
information from CDC regarding the swine flu situation as of today, April
27:
§ There is NO
INDICATION that the disease is spread by food, including fresh fruits and
vegetables.
§ All
points of entry between the U.S. and Mexico are currently open. Reports of
closures are unfounded.
§ Charles E. Johnson,
Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has
declared a public health emergency, however the situation is NOT considered to
be a pandemic.
§ Mexico is
reporting 149 deaths and over 2000 cases, however there are only 40 reported
cases in five states (CA, TX, OH, KS, NY). All of the U.S.
cases are considered mild, and the only current hospitalization is related to an
existing condition.
§ The primary manner of
disease transfer appears to be contact with an infected individual, similar to
“normal” flu. The primary means of preventing infection is by everyday
preventive actions, such as washing hands with soap and water after touching
possibly contaminated surfaces. For more preventive actions, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm
§ Several antiviral
treatments appear to be effective in preventing infection or minimizing the
effects of infection, but CDC is not recommending their use at this time except
in special circumstances.
§ CDC has recommended
that individuals traveling to areas with heavy swine flu activity consider the
situation.
§ Additional information
about swine flu is available at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm
§ Regular updates are
being posted at http://www.pandemicflu.gov and http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_internal_001.
United Fresh will keep you informed
as new information becomes available.
Contacts:
Patrick
Delaney
pdelaney@unitedfresh.org
202-303-3400 ext.
417
Dr. David
Gombas
dgombas@unitedfresh.org
202-303-3400 ext.
411
Ray
Gilmer
rgilmer@unitedfresh.org
202-303-3400 ext.
425
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