Scammers are creating their own epidemic of spam e-mails

Relying on reports from online security experts, Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on the lookout for fraudulent e-mails and Web sites trying to take advantage of the current swine flu outbreak.

“Scammers read newspapers, watch TV and surf the Internet and they know that by using a hook from the day’s top headlines, that they’ll be able to catch lots of fish,” said Kathy Graham, President/CEO of the BBB of Coastal Carolina, Inc. “Right now, issues associated with swine flu and a potential pandemic are of global interest and that means scammers have a very large pond to go phishing in.”

According to McAfee Avert Labs, an online security company, spammers began pumping out e-mails as soon as the first accounts of swine flu were being reported in the news, accounting for two percent of all spam messages. The messages include such subject lines as, “Madonna caught swine flu!” and “Swine flu in Hollywood!” The company reports that the e-mails do not contain malware but often link to online pharmacies.

Another online security company claims that more than 250 Web sites with the term “swine flu” have been registered within the first few days following the announcement of the outbreak and predict that the scams artists are preparing to use such Web sites in a variety of different online scams. One Web site is already selling a “Swine Flu Survival Guide” PDF for $19.95 (www.noswineflu.com )

BBB offers the following advice to avoid swine flu scams:

• Avoid opening e-mail from an unknown source and do not click on any links in the body of the e-mail or open any attachments. Instead, delete the e-mail or report it to the Federal Trade Commission by forwarding the e-mail to spam@uce.gov.

• Don’t believe online offers for vaccinations against swine flu because a vaccine does not exist. For more information on swine flu and updates on progress in fighting the outbreak, go to www.cdc.gov/swineflu

• Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up to date and all operating system security patches have been installed. If your computer becomes infected as the result of a spam e-mail about swine flu, you can report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

For more information or to schedule an interview with a BBB spokesperson, contact Kathy Graham at 843-488-0238.

Influenza A (H1N1) & Swine

Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health (CULPH) is monitoring the ongoing influenza A (H1N1) (swine flu) situation closely and taking appropriate steps to help protect animal and human health. This is not an animal disease outbreak.

Dr. Tony Caver, as state veterinarian, has reported to USDA via the area office of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that we are not aware [4/27/2009] of any adverse pig health issues in SC, particularly none associated with SIV (swine influenza virus). Dr. Caver further states CULPH will continue to work with the Pork Board, USDA-APHIS, CDC and SC DHEC to monitor the situation.

Attached is a fact sheet about influenza A and swine flu and also information from the National Pork Producers Council that will remind you of recommended biosecurity practices for your swine operations, especially now.

Thank you for your foresight in registering your premises with us. As a contact for a NAIS premises registered with us that indicates you have one or more pigs, we wanted you to have this fact sheet available as you encounter questions from your friends, family and neighbors in addition to questions you may have yourself. If in the future this or any other disease threatens SC swine, we will do our best to keep you informed as a registered premises contact.


Special Swine Flu Update
From the National Institute of Animal Agriculture

Statement by Ag Secretary Vilsack Regarding Human Cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) (USDA, 4/27) -- "I would like to express my deepest sympathies for those who have lost loved ones to the flu as well as those who have been sickened. I also wanted to reassure the public that there is no evidence at this time showing that swine have been infected with this virus.
According to scientists at USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills all viruses and other foodborne pathogens.
USDA has in place, and did so before the last week's events, a surveillance system to monitor animal health. As an additional precautionary measure, I have asked USDA to reach out to agriculture officials in every state to affirm that they have no signs of this virus type in their state.
USDA will continue to work with other government agencies to monitor the situation and keep the public informed."

Pork Safe To Eat (National Pork Producers Council, 4/26) --Pork is safe to eat, and direct contact with swine is not the source of, and U.S. pigs have not been infected with, the hybrid influenza that has been identified in a number of people in the United States and more than 1,300 in Mexico.
“NPPC wants to assure domestic and global consumers about the safety of pork and urges pork producers to tighten their existing biosecurity protocols to protect their pigs from this virus, including restricting public access to barns.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
· People cannot get the hybrid influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
· There are no food safety issues related to the hybrid flu that has been identified, according to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.
· Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the hybrid flu had contact with hogs.
· “This virus is different, very different from that found in pigs.”
· The hybrid virus never has been identified in hogs in the United States or anywhere in the world.
· The hybrid virus is contagious and is spreading by human-to-human transmission.
For more information, visit www.pork.org , www.cdc.gov/swineflu or http://www.usda.gov/2009/04/0131.xml

Swine Flu Heightens Emphasis on Biosecurity (National Pork Board, 4/27) -- Media reports on a new strain of the swine influenza virus type H1N1 different from any other ever reported in U.S. swine herds serve as a reminder of the need for strict and enforceable biosecurity measured on U.S. pork production operations. The virus has not been reported to cause illness in pigs in the United States, but it has been associated with illness in eight people in the states of California and Texas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has reported that the same virus may be responsible for outbreaks of influenza in humans in Mexico.
The Pork Checkoff is recommending that pork producers implement biosecurity practices on their farms to prevent that this new strain of swine influenza does not enter the U.S. swine herd and to protect the health and safety of our industry’s workers.
Consider including the following biosecurity practices for your farm:
· Limit the access of people to essential personnel (farm employees, veterinarians and essential service people);
· Implement policies that prevent employees presenting signs of flu-like illness from having contact with the pigs or other people on the operation;
· Prevent access of international visitors or people who have recently returned from international travel, particularly from travel to Mexico, into your operation;
· Implement a shower in-shower out procedure and the use of farm-specific clothing and footwear for employees entering the barns. At minimum, employees should don farm footwear and completely wash hands and arms before having contact with the pigs;
· Enforce heightened personal hygiene practices including frequent hand washing for all people in contact with pigs;
· Establish contact with the herd veterinarian to discuss other biosecurity practices that are merited by this event.
The importance of keen observation of the health and behavior of your animals cannot be understated and the Pork Checkoff recommends that you establish immediate contact with a swine veterinarian if you suspect that a disease may be present on your farm. More information on influenza can be found in the fact sheet Influenza: Pigs, people and public health . And, additional information on swine influenza and an update on the outbreak reported by the CDC can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/swine .