Pigs at the Minnesota state fair have tested positive for the H1N1 "swine" flu virus in preliminary tests.

Confirmation tests are pending, but this could be bad news and cause panic within the pork industry. Pork belly futures and companies like Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD), Tyson (NYSE: TSN), and Hormel (NYSE: HRL) are a few that could be affected.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: BCRX) was on the move Tuesday after inking letters of intent with three partners, who will take the lead on stockpiling, marketing, and distribution efforts for the company's influenza treatment in four countries. Marketing and distribution will be contingent upon local regulatory approval, but all three partners will immediately begin discussing stockpiling opportunities with the appropriate government officials.

Moksha8 Pharmaceuticals will be BioCryst's representative in Brazil and Mexico, which together account for 75% of the Latin American pharmaceutical market. Meanwhile, NT Pharma Co. is the company's Chinese partner, and Neopharm Group is taking the reins in Israel.

Vical Inc. (NASDAQ: VICL) surged higher out of the gate Thursday after scoring a U.S. patent for its pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines, including those to shield against H1N1 (swine flu) and H5N1 (avian flu). Both treatments use Vical's patented Vaxfectin adjuvant, which helps to boost immunity.

While the H5N1 vaccine has completed early-stage human trials, the H1N1 vaccine has yet to be tested on human subjects. Positive results have been recorded from tests conducted on mice and rabbits, but VICL said earlier this year that it will require more funding to begin large-scale trials on humans.