EDITORIAL

Pork still safe to eat despite Mexican swine influenza

Pork is still safe to eat, despite the Mexican swine influenza as it has not yet penetrated the Philippines, according to government spokesmen. Despite the menace, as precaution, Dept. of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the DOH activated surveillance particularly screening of inbound passengers in international seaports and airports since last week. This, following the World Health Organization’s announcement that the influenza strain developed into a public health emergency of international concern.

Now, passengers under “feverish condition” will be isolated and treated to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the San Lazaro Hospital and the Lung Center of the Philippines.

For travelers coming in into the country, the DOH formulated a “health alert checklist” for travelers to fill-up. The DOH did not issue travel bans to affected countries, though they advised travelers to reconsider their plans to travel to Mexico and other affected countries unless extremely necessary

This, as the WHO based in Paris announced it found no evidence the influenza virus is transmitted by food. Instead, as reported by Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde, there are indications that the virus jumped from one person to another. “This new strain (Mexican Swine influenza) as described from cases and deaths from Mexico and several other areas in the United States, has not identified been previously from animals or humans. The occurrence of illness and the absence of definite pig exposure among the first cases strongly suggested human to human transmission.”

The signs and symptoms of the influenza in humans include: fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, and nausea/vomiting and diarrhea. To reduce the risks of infection, DOH has proposed several ways including avoiding places described as afflicted areas; and covering mouth and nose with tissues or handkerchief when coughing or sneezing.

In the Cordillera, Dr. Susan Lachica, of the regional office of the DOH said they are prepared to respond to the influenza The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center is ready and well equipped to respond to any infectious diseases – in terms of isolation rooms and trained doctors. Lachica said pork meat is still safe to eat, as long as it is properly washed and cooked.

The new “swine flu” virus recently discovered in Mexico, wherein 20 confirmed deaths were recorded with another 83 suspected deaths and around 400 confirmed cases, is an entirely new strain or a different kind of virus, so there is no available vaccine for it yet.