|
THE
Department of Health (DOH) on Monday allayed fears on
the possible effects of eating meat products infected
with hog cholera virus (HCV) that is affecting many pigs
in Bulacan and Pampanga.
In an
advisory, the DOH said humans are “not susceptible” to
HCV but urged the people to eat only meat products that
have gone through the National Meat Inspection
Commission (NMIC) inspection.
“On the
public health stand, human beings are not susceptible to
HCV infection. The public can eat properly cooked pork,
provided that it has gone through the NMIC process of
examination and has been permitted to be safe for public
consumption,” said the advisory.
The
price of pork in several public markets has gone down
from P150 to P130 a kilo because of the spread of the
virus that was feared to also affect humans eating
infected products.
The DOH
said the disease, also known as swine fever, is a
specific viral disease limited to pigs. “The pig is the
only natural reservoir of HCV. It affects no other
species,” said the DOH.
Transmission among pigs occurs mostly by the oral route,
though infection can occur through the conjunctiva,
mucous membrane, skin abrasion, insemination and
percutaneous blood transfer, the advisory explained.
While
clarifying that there is no danger in eating infected
pork products, the DOH, however, urged the NMIC to
intensify its campaign against meat dealers selling
uninspected products. |
