Press Releases

Pig samples test positive for human swine influenza virus

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) had found in its regular influenza virus surveillance programme that two pig samples taken at the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse on October 22 tested positive for human swine influenza (pandemic influenza A H1N1) virus, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (November 5).

This surveillance programme has been ongoing since 1999 and this is the first time that the human swine flu virus has been detected in pigs in this surveillance. No gene reassortment has occurred and the virus remains genetically similar to the human swine flu viruses regularly being found in humans.

Experts in charge of the surveillance programme considered that these findings indicate that the human swine flu virus detected in pigs is recently transmitted from humans to pigs. The risk of humans contracting human swine influenza virus has not increased.

"The findings echo similar reports in other countries," the spokesman said.

"There is no cause for the public to be overly concerned. Human swine flu virus is killed under a temperature of 70 degree Celsius or above. It is safe for the public to eat pork and pork products that are handled properly and cooked thoroughly."

He pointed out 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.

HKU experts also indicated that there was no need to conduct testing for the virus on chilled and frozen pork.

"HKU did not record the farm of origin of the pig samples concerned. The live pigs in Hong Kong are supplied by both local and Mainland farms. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has contacted all local pig farmers again and reminded them to stay vigilant, strictly implement biosecurity measures and maintain good farm and personal hygiene. Any abnormality in farms should be reported to AFCD immediately.

"AFCD will continue to regularly inspect the pig farms and closely monitor the health condition of the pigs on farms.

"We have also 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 with health certificates issued by the Mainland authorities. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will carry out inspection at the boundary control point.

"Live pigs have to go through ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection in the slaughterhouses and only pigs which pass the inspection can be supplied to the market," he said.

"Apart from stepping up inspection, FEHD has requested the operators to strengthen cleaning and disinfection of the slaughterhouses. FEHD has also reminded slaughterhouse staff and people who might be in contact with live pigs to pay attention to personal hygiene and wear masks and appropriate protective gear."

The spokesman added that those involved in pig farming and slaughtering trade would be among the target groups to be vaccinated when the human swine influenza vaccination programme began.


Ends/Thursday, November 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:13

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