Is it dangerous to eat pork infected with African swine fever?

The Department of Preventive Medicine has just announced that African swine fever is a dangerous infectious disease caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). The disease is characterized by rapid spread among pigs, in all types of pigs with a high mortality rate of up to 100%. The disease is transmitted through pig herds through contact with the blood and mucus of sick pigs.

The announcement also affirmed that this disease does not cause illness in humans, therefore, people need to stay calm and not panic and boycott the consumption of safe, disease-free and hygienically processed pork products.

African swine fever is not transmitted to humans but can contain other harmful bacteria.

However, according to Associate Professor Nguyen Ba Hien, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, swine fever does not cause disease in humans but is transmitted to flies, mosquitoes, rats, cats, chickens, and ducks. Pigs with cholera can contract other dangerous diseases such as blue ear, flu, typhoid... These diseases are dangerous to humans because they disrupt the digestive system, especially when people eat raw blood pudding or undercooked meat of sick pigs.

"When pigs get blue ear disease, streptococcus bacteria that exist in the animal's mouth and nose will flare up. People with scratches or wounds, who come into contact with sick pigs, will be infected with the bacteria. Patients often have high fever, headache, nausea, and bleeding in some parts of the body. Some cases show symptoms of digestive poisoning, and more seriously, meningitis," the expert said.

On the management side, to avoid the risk of African swine fever spreading widely, the Department of Animal Health requests people not to sell sick pigs or pigs suspected of being sick. Business people do not slaughter or transport sick pigs or pigs suspected of being sick. When a disease occurs, it is necessary to notify local authorities and veterinary agencies to promptly organize the handling of the outbreak.

Director of the Department of Animal Health Pham Van Dong recommends that breeders should proactively prevent epidemics using biological methods such as lime powder at entrances and barns, strictly control people entering and leaving the facility, and buy breeding pigs from reputable, quarantined facilities.

"Consumers can rest assured to use pork at reputable establishments that have controlled slaughtering, stamping, rolling, and inspection stamps according to legal regulations. Pork products should not be boycotted," Mr. Dong called for.

Previously, some households in Hung Yen and Thai Binh were found to have African swine fever. To date, Hung Yen has about 365 pigs that are subject to destruction.