The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries today announced that A/H1N1 virus spread to 21 countries from 17 April to 5 May. So far, the number of suspicious victims around the world is 5368, that of infected people is 1490 and the disease has claimed 31 lives. In Asia-Pacific region, three people in the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong were infected with the virus.

Regarding the infection of A/H1N1 virus from human to pigs in Canada, Veterinary Head Dr Joseph Domenech of WHO on 4 May said that flu virus by nature could infect animals from humans, so it was not surprising; that there had been many human-to-animal cases, so it was needed to watch the cases with animal health awareness; that he suggested that if respiratory syndromes were found in pigs, the pigs should be kept in quarantine and restricted from going away and the case should be informed immediately to the nearest veterinary clinic; that culling pigs for prevention of the virus would not contribute towards the health of the people and animals; and that seeking root cause of virus infection and raising the bio security were the most effective preventive measures.

FAO, WHO, Codex Alimentarius and OIE insisted that there would be no infection of the virus if pork and pig products were handled and cooked in a systematic way.

Now, state/division, district and township level branches of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries are working together with local authorities, development affairs committees, the Myanmar Livestock and Fisheries Federation and livestock breeding entrepreneurs in raising the public awareness about the swine flu, distributing pamphlets, taking surveillance measures, and raising bio safety.

In Yangon on 28 April, Dr Murray Maclean of FAO to Myanmar, Deputy Director-General of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department Dr Aung Gyi, veterinarians from states and divisions, the Myanmar Livestock Breeding Federation and more than 60 pig breeders held a workshop on prevention of swine flu, bio-security and diagnosis and sought ways and means to prevent the disease.

In that regard, those from foreign countries visiting Myanmar will not be allowed to go to pig farms directly, and they will be allowed to do so only after taking bio-security measures.

Up to 5 May, A/H1N1 virus had not been found in pig farms in Myanmar.