Rumors suggesting Swine Flu has canceled the 18th Laura Aboriginal Dance & Cultural Festival have been dismissed as pure nonsense. Festival Director, Jeremy Geia said "I would like to re-assure people that the 2009 Laura Festival will be the greatest on record. We've got 3 weeks to go and to have something like this circulate is a load of hogwash. There are thousands of people that have been preparing for this and it's just silly that someone has made this up." In the past 2 days Mr. Geia has received phone calls from Cairns and Hopevale from visitors concerned about the possible virus closing the Festival gates. Mr. Geia said "All I can say is that I'm a great believer in public health and we will have the State's best medical and Health professionals at the Dance Ground. You are more likely to catch Swine Flu at a football match then the Laura Festival - are they going to stop the State of Origin in Victoria because of the high numbers of Swine Flu?" This Bi-ennial Event showcases Cape York's rich and diverse Aboriginal Song & Dance. Entering its 4th decade the Laura Festival is one of the oldest Indigenous cultural events in Australia and arguably the largest. Organisers are allowing up to 5000 visitors to attend this Festival with interest coming from as far Sydney, Canberra and Russia. More than 18 Communities are planning to attend with large representation so far registered from Lockhart River, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and Yarrabah. "We don't know how it started or who by - but there are more than a million feral pigs on the Cape. It's a big problem but I'm more than happy to give them the benefit of the doubt."