Precautions are in place at the Maple Leaf Foods hog processing plant in Brandon to ensure that workers do not have the H1N1 virus, says plant manager Leo Collins.
“We’ve asked all employees, obviously with the priority being the Mexican workers, to come to the health unit (at the plant),” said Collins, who noted there are 10 Mexican workers among 2,000 staff at the plant.
Maple Leaf began checking the health of its employees in Brandon last week. No workers at the facility testing positive for H1N1.
Read Also
Europe holds promise for Canadian lentils
Pulse Canada is trying to help boost lentil consumption in Europe, which is already the fourth largest market.
Only one employee was asked to leave the plant after being examined by one of the four full-time nurses who staff Maple Leaf’s on-site health unit.
“We had one case where an individual had a cough. And so on a precautionary basis, we sent him to the doctor,” Collins said, noting it turned out that the employee was fine.
Maple Leaf was concerned that its workers from El Salvador and Colombia may stop in Mexico, while travelling between their home country and Canada. Those workers are being monitored.
“If they haven’t got any of those symptoms, then they’re good to go. If they have any of those symptoms, then we ask them to go to their family doctor,” Collins said.
Collins noted that people who provide services to the Maple Leaf’s plant in Brandon have also been asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their recent travel and any symptoms of illness.
“Even our contractors are filling out the questionnaire. And all our truck drivers… and declaring whether they’ve been in Mexico or not,” Collins said.
Since the discovery of the H1N1 virus in a hog farm in Alberta, inspectors who scrutinize the health of hogs entering the Brandon plant have also been told to be more vigilant, Collins said.
Manitoba’s chief veterinary officer, Wayne Lees, is reminding all commercial producers to maintain biosecurity in their hog barns. Hobby farms are also being encouraged to closely monitor swine health.
