I don't think the US released a pork disease, swine flu (as well as bird flu) makes the rounds in various countries every year. The difference with this swine flu is that it is more prolific and more farmers are having to kill their stock. Not out of the question a disease was released, but almost impossible to detect in that it is already floating around.

Maybe a coincidence, but it's odd. The demand will outweigh the stock soon, at least in those countries hit with the disease. Easy to foresee someone stepping in here while there is a surplus and storage options shrinking, and saying, "hey I can take that off your hands" and then making a huge profit when the demand soars.

Not sure about the cold storage, will ask my restaurant buddy, he may know.