No sign of swine flu in Sri Lanka

There is no indication of the presence of the swine flu in Sri Lanka and consumption of pork is safe, said Chairman of the All-Island Poultry Association and Patron of the Swine Association, Dr. D.D. Wanasinghe.

He said the swine flu is a viral disease that affects the respiratory system of the swine and causes of the disease have not been diagnosed. The outbreak of the disease was first identified in Mexico where the death toll had risen to over 150 in the past month.

The United States declared a health emergency amid signs the disease was spreading. “The import of pork products must be banned till the causes for the disease have been properly identified,” Dr. Wanasinghe said.

The WHO said last week that the new strain, was born when human and Avian flu viruses infected pigs and became mixed could mutate further.