Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) had found in its regular influenza virus surveillance programme that two samples taken from pigs at the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse on December 3 tested positive for the human swine influenza (pandemic influenza A H1N1) virus, a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (December 16).
This is the second time that positive samples were found in the programme.
No gene reassortment has occurred and the virus remains genetically similar to the human swine flu viruses regularly found in humans.
The two samples were taken from pigs imported from the Mainland.
Prof Malik Peiris, the HKU expert in charge of the surveillance programme, considered that the flu virus could have been transmitted from humans to pigs in the transport process.
''Similar findings have been reported in other countries, so the current finding is not surprising. It is expected that the virus may be detected from time to time in the university's surveillance programme in the future,'' Prof Peiris said.
The FEHD spokesman said that the World Health Organisation, World Organisation for Animal Health, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and World Trade Organisation had already stated that pork and pork products which were handled properly and thoroughly cooked were not a source of human swine influenza infection.
It is safe to eat pork and pork products that are cooked to an internal temperature of 70 degree Celsius or above.
''The risk of humans contracting the pandemic H1N1 swine influenza is not increased by the current finding. There is no cause for the public to be overly concerned.
''We have informed the Mainland authorities so that they can further step up the monitoring and inspection of the registered farms supplying live pigs to Hong Kong.
"All imported live pigs from the Mainland should come from registered farms and be accompanied by health certificates issued by the Mainland authorities. The FEHD will carry out inspection at the boundary control point.
"Pigs have to go through ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection in the slaughterhouses. Only pigs which pass the inspection can be supplied to the market," he added. "Apart from stepping up inspection of imported live pigs, FEHD has also reminded slaughterhouse staff and people who might be in contact with live pigs to pay attention to personal hygiene, and to wear masks and appropriate protective gear when working."
Those involved in the pig farming and slaughtering trade will be among the target groups to receive the human flu A H1N1 vaccine starting from next Monday (December 21).
hat-tip Ironorehopper
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