Swine flu: 5 letters

Published May 5, 2009 at 2:05 a.m.

As a pig producer from Yuma, my family and I would like to reassure everyone that U.S. pork and pork products continue to be a safe, nutritional food. To date, no pigs in the United States have been confirmed to have the H1N1 influenza. As the human-to-human spread of the influenza continues to increase, I encourage everyone to take those everyday steps in preventing the possible transmission of the flu. By doing three simple things, we can reduce the possible transmission of the flu:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

As a producer, we are taking care of our pigs. We are increasing the bio-security on our operations and continuing to monitor our pigs daily. We pride ourselves in providing excellent care to our pigs, and will continue to provide the same high standard of care. Please have confidence as you continue to buy and consume pork and pork products.

Don Rutledge, Yuma

The writer is president of the Colorado Livestock Association. This letter was also signed by Ivan Steinke, executive director of the Colorado Pork Producers Council.

This letter was published in the May 5 edition.

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Though Joe Biden has been known to stick his foot in his foot occasionally, his comments this time were right on. Biden was not trying to appease the airline industry. The secretary of transportation made a comment that people can just as easily pick up the H1N1 virus walking next to someone in the city. I guess it depends what city he is referring to, as most people generally don’t walk as close to people as they are sitting next to them on a tightly packed airplane! If I can avoid tightly packed crowds and public transportation right now, I will.

Barb Adams, Parker

This letter was published in the May 5 edition.

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Re: “Swine-flu scare; Caution from ’76 vaccine,” May 3 news story.

There was a very common-sense editorial in last Friday’s Post titled “Staying calm about swine flu is best course of action.” I agree completely, but it doesn’t appear that the journalists who write for The Denver Post read the editorial. Every paper has some sensational new news about swine flu. And on Sunday, the front page told us about the unfortunate flu vaccine in 1976. The TV news broadcasts are at fault too, as they spend an unnecessary amount of time talking about the swine flu.

There is an old saying: “You should practice what you preach.”

K.L. Gilliland, Denver

This letter was published in the May 5 edition.

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George Bernard Shaw said: “Newspapers are unable, seemingly, to discriminate between a bicycle accident and the collapse of civilization.”

Estimated deaths each and every day in America: heart disease, 1,900; cancer, 1,600; stroke, 500; diabetes, 220; suicide, 200; traffic accidents, 120; AIDS, 26; falling from a building, 3.

And swine flu? You’re much more likely to die on the way to the store to buy hand sanitizer than even get swine flu.

Are the real killers in this country just too boring?

Marie Johnson, Denver

This letter was published in the May 5 edition.

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Re: “Swine flu is a reminder of need for paid sick days,” April 30 letter to the editor.

I am so glad that Erin Bennett of the 9to5 association has a solution for public health. I will be glad to give her the names and addresses of the 11 employees in our company where she may send her check to cover those sick days. If that won’t work out, perhaps she could write an easy-to-use guide on how to apply for government assistance — i.e., unemployment, food stamps, rent subsidy and whatever else we as small-business owners seem to be expected to finance. If that doesn’t seem good enough, then she could attend the eventual news conference to help me explain why I have to close down my operation, since the “golden goose” has finally been squeezed to death.

Or maybe I am being too harsh. Has Ms. Bennett ever had the stress of making a weekly payroll and the thrill of employer tax deposits?

Harry Littman, Denver

This letter was published in the May 5 edition.

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