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Swine Influenza Virus reassorted with Pandemic H1N1 Virus isolated from Pig

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  • Swine Influenza Virus reassorted with Pandemic H1N1 Virus isolated from Pig

    Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The University of Hong Kong (HKU) had found in its regular influenza virus surveillance programme that one sample taken from a pig at the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse on January 7 contained a virus which was essentially a swine influenza virus but had picked up a pandemic H1N1 gene by genetic reassortment. There is no cause for alarm for public health and pork remains safe for consumption. Government is closely monitoring developments and shall continue to keep the public informed.

    This is the first time that reassortment of swine influenza virus with the pandemic H1N1 virus was found in the surveillance programme. Prof Malik Peiris, the HKU expert in charge of the surveillance programme, considered that the findings of reassortment between the pandemic H1N1 virus and swine influenza virus was not totally unexpected. These events were likely occurring worldwide and its detection in Hong Kong was purely the consequence of intensive surveillance.Further tests are being conducted by HKU to determine if there are any particularcharacteristics of this strain.

    A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) reaffirmed that the World Health Organization, World Organisation for Animal Health and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations had stated that pork and pork products which were handled properly and thoroughly cooked were safe for human consumption.It is safe to eat pork and pork products that are cooked to an internal temperature of 70 degrees Celsius or above. A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection also said: ¡§Laboratory surveillance on human specimens by the Department of Health (DH) has not detected similar viruses in humans. ¡§There is no sign that the virus is present in Hong Kong population at this time.The DH will maintain intensive surveillance of influenza in humans.

    ¡§Preliminary findings also show that the virus is sensitive to antiviral drug, oseltamivir. ¡¨ The CFS spokesman said:¡§The sample was taken from a pig imported from the Mainland. We have 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 come from registered farms and are accompanied by health certificates issued by the Mainland authorities.

    The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will also carry out inspection at the boundary control point. Pigs have to go through ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection in the slaughterhouses.Only pigs which pass the inspection can be supplied to the market. Apart from stepping up inspection of imported live pigs, FEHD has again reminded slaughterhouse staff and people who might be in contact with live pigs to pay attention to personal hygiene, and to wear masks and appropriate protective gear at work.To date over one-third of those involved in pig farming and slaughtering trade have received the human swine influenza vaccine.

    The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will continue to inspect and closely monitor the health condition of pigs on local pig farms.Any pig with clinical signs of swine influenza will be carefully examined and samples will be taken for diagnosis.

    Source: HKSAR Government



    Published on: 2010-02-26

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