A/H1N1 virus in humans has spread to 29 countries to date infecting 3440 people and killing 48. The flu has been detected in 13 people in South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and New Zealand in Asia Pacific region.

On 7 May, FAO, WHO and OIE issued a joint warning as follows: The flu virus in pigs has not been found to infect humans by consuming pork and pig products.

The virus cannot survive if pork and pig products are cooked at 70 degree centigrade or 160 degree Fahrenheit.

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

Local authorities and the public are not to process, trade and consume infected pork and pigs that died from infection under no circumstances.

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 public awareness about the swine flu, distributing pamphlets, taking surveillance measures and raising bio safety.

In states and divisions, field surveillance and educative measures are being taken for prevention against consumption of pork and pig products imported from foreign countries and through border gates.

Up to date, A/H1N1 virus has not been found in pig farms in Myanmar, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries announced today.