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Joint FAO/WHO/OIE statement on influenza A(H1N1) and the safety of pork

To avoid any misunderstanding FAO, WHO and OIE would like to reissue their joint statement originally issued on 30 April 2009.

In the ongoing spread of influenza A(H1N1), concerns about the possibility of this virus being found in pigs and the safety of pork and pork products have been raised.

Influenza viruses are not known to be transmissible to people through eating processed pork or other food products derived from pigs.

Heat treatments commonly used in cooking meat (e.g. 70=B0C/160=B0F core temperature) will readily inactivate any viruses potentially present in raw meat products.

Pork and pork products, handled in accordance with good hygienic practices recommended by the WHO , Codex Alimentarius Commission and the OIE, will not be a source of infection

Authorities and consumers should ensure that meat from sick pigs or pigs found dead are not processed or used for human consumption under any circumstances.

A web site dedicated to Influenza A (H1N1) is here: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

All press releases, fact sheets and other WHO media material may be found at www.who.int.