‘African Swine Fever virus doesn’t infect humans’
LABUAN: The Health Ministry has assured consumers that the discovery of the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus in Sarawak has not reached an alarming stage and poses no danger to humans.
“There is nothing to fear about… the African Swine Fever virus, as it is zoonotic, which means it does not infect humans,” said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said his ministry was working with the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) to prevent the possible spread of the virus.
“It is well under control and we are working together with the department to contain the virus,” he said, adding that the ministry would continue to conduct tests on porcine-based products to ensure they were not contaminated with the ASF virus, Bernama reported.
According to Health directorgeneral Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the tests involve verifying the effectiveness of the “retort process” — a method which sterilises food.
He added that the Veterinary Services Department was advising consumers to temporarily refrain from buying pork-based products and for farmers to stop the practice of swill feeding.
The DVSS said on Oct 27 that it had detected the ASF virus in a can of luncheon pork imported from China — a finding confirmed by the department’s Veterinary Public Health laboratories. Sarawak had enforced a ban on all pork and pork-based products from countries affected by the ASF, which include China, Vietnam and Russia.
Pigs in Sarawak remain ASFfree.