ID :
58052
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 03:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/58052
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea to ban live pig imports from North America By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will ban live pig imports from North America as a precautionary measure to protect the country from the rapidly spreading swine flu epidemic, the government said Tuesday.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the measures will
go into effect as of Wednesday, with imports from other regions to undergo
detailed tests.
The decision was made after farm Minister Chang Tae-pyong briefed President Lee
Myung-bak on the latest developments related to the swine flu outbreak and was
told to swiftly implement solid actions to decrease public concerns.
Seoul had already implemented heightened quarantine inspection rules for all
imported live pigs and pork, including detailed blood tests to detect the variant
strain of the type-A H1N1 virus.
In 2008, South Korea imported 1,800 pigs from countries like the United States,
Canada and France for breeding purposes. This year, 69 animals have been imported
from Canada.
The swine flu that was first reported April 13 is estimated to have claimed
around 150 lives in Mexico and caused a large number of people to get sick in the
U.S., Canada, some European countries and New Zealand, with South Korea citing a
probable case.
The 51-year-old Korean woman recently visited Mexico and has been quarantined at
a state-controlled hospital for treatment.
The exact cause of the deadly strain is not perfectly understood, but scientists
have said the latest swine flu is a mix of influenza viruses from two different
types of pigs, bird flu and human flu, and it is transmitted among humans. No
hogs have tested positive for the virulent virus strain found in people.
The ministry in charge of livestock and food, meanwhile, said rumors that pig
intestines could transmit the swine flu virus to humans are incorrect since there
are no documented cases of meat causing the sickness.
"Both the World Organization for Animal Health and World Health Organization said
pork meat is safe to eat and that there is no risk to humans from eating
intestines," a press release said.
It stressed that government inspectors are already checking all pork products
carefully, and there is no need to take extra measures or block imports.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the measures will
go into effect as of Wednesday, with imports from other regions to undergo
detailed tests.
The decision was made after farm Minister Chang Tae-pyong briefed President Lee
Myung-bak on the latest developments related to the swine flu outbreak and was
told to swiftly implement solid actions to decrease public concerns.
Seoul had already implemented heightened quarantine inspection rules for all
imported live pigs and pork, including detailed blood tests to detect the variant
strain of the type-A H1N1 virus.
In 2008, South Korea imported 1,800 pigs from countries like the United States,
Canada and France for breeding purposes. This year, 69 animals have been imported
from Canada.
The swine flu that was first reported April 13 is estimated to have claimed
around 150 lives in Mexico and caused a large number of people to get sick in the
U.S., Canada, some European countries and New Zealand, with South Korea citing a
probable case.
The 51-year-old Korean woman recently visited Mexico and has been quarantined at
a state-controlled hospital for treatment.
The exact cause of the deadly strain is not perfectly understood, but scientists
have said the latest swine flu is a mix of influenza viruses from two different
types of pigs, bird flu and human flu, and it is transmitted among humans. No
hogs have tested positive for the virulent virus strain found in people.
The ministry in charge of livestock and food, meanwhile, said rumors that pig
intestines could transmit the swine flu virus to humans are incorrect since there
are no documented cases of meat causing the sickness.
"Both the World Organization for Animal Health and World Health Organization said
pork meat is safe to eat and that there is no risk to humans from eating
intestines," a press release said.
It stressed that government inspectors are already checking all pork products
carefully, and there is no need to take extra measures or block imports.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
