1. News on swine flu in humans throughout the world

(a) Outbreak of virus across the world: Swine influenza in humans is spreading from North America to South America, Europe, Asia and Australia from 17 to 29 April. The World Health Organization designated swine flu as pandemic alert level phase 5.

(b) Nature of virus in swine flu: It is a new virus H1N1 combined with genes of virus from pigs, chicken and human influenzas.

2. Point of view of World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)

(a) According to the news released by the OIE on 28-4-2009, Swine influenza A (H1N1) that broke out in humans in North America was not infected from foods.

(b) Up to now, it should not be called swine influenza because the virus H1N1 had not been found in pigs. The current virus should be called North American Influenza similar to the past epidemics of human influenza epidemics such as Spanish flu and Asian flu.

(c) As there is no evidence of virus infection in pigs in the regions where swine flu breaks out, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) states that it is not necessary to limit the trade of pig and pork in the international market and the eating of pork or related products are not harmful to the consumers.

3. Nature of swine flu: Although serious illness can be found in pigs with virus infection of swine flu, there may be least causality. Such virus can be prevented at the breeding farms through the vaccines.

4. Common outbreak of swine disease in Myanmar: The common outbreak of virus in pigs is only classical swine fever, and so far, there has been no case of swine flu in Myanmar.

5. Attention to animal health: As swine flu may have the zoonosis infection between animals and humans, the pig breeders and sellers are to join hands with the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, the Myanmar Livestock Breeding Federation, development affairs committees, and local authorities in taking preventive measures against the swine flu.