Fed: Don't be alarmed about pork: minister

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2009
Fed: Don't be alarmed about pork: minister

By Simon Jenkins

CANBERRA, April 28 AAP - Australians shouldn't be alarmist about pork amid the swine
flu outbreak, federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has said.

Mr Burke was asked on Tuesday if Australia would follow the lead of other countries
and stop importing pork as part of its response to swine flu.

"I don't think any of us should be alarmist about pig meat itself," he replied.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been quick to point out that people cannot
catch swine flu from eating pork.

"Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly
handled and prepared pork, or other products derived from pigs," WHO has said.

"The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160F/70C, corresponding
to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat."

But that advice has not stopped some countries from moving to halt pork imports.

Mr Burke, who spoke with the director of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
on Tuesday, said the government was doing everything it could to minimise any potential
spread of the disease to Australia.

"Everything that we're doing is completely in line with what the World Health Organisation
is recommending," he told reporters in Canberra.

AAP srj/rl/tnf

KEYWORD: FLU BURKE

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