Is It Safe to Consume Pork Affected by African Swine Fever?

African Swine Fever is a highly contagious disease that has been spreading rapidly across multiple countries. In Vietnam, the outbreak has already affected three provinces - Thai Binh, Hung Yen, and Hai Phong - resulting in massive pig deaths. With no known cure or treatment, the disease has sparked concerns among homemakers about the safety of consuming infected pork.

Administrator

13 July, 2024

African Swine Fever: A Cause for Concern in Vietnam

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious virus that has been spreading rapidly across multiple countries, including Vietnam. As of now, three provinces in Vietnam – Thai Binh, Hung Yen, and Hai Phong – have been affected by this virus, resulting in mass pig deaths. There is currently no cure for ASF, which has left consumers, especially homemakers, worried about the potential risks of consuming infected pork.

1. Understanding African Swine Fever

What is African Swine Fever?

African Swine Fever is caused by a virus known as African swine fever virus (ASFV). It affects multiple organs in pigs, including the skin, causing purple discoloration, as well as the digestive tract, heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. It also leads to necrosis of the skin surface, ultimately resulting in the death of the animal.

The ASFV virus has an incredibly long survival rate in various bodily fluids and tissues, such as blood (6 years), spleen (2 years), moist feces (122 days), and urine (45 days). It can infect both wild and domestic pigs, spreading through contact with the blood and mucus of infected animals.

2. Is It Safe to Consume Pork Affected by ASF?

According to PGS Nguyen Ba Hien from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, African Swine Fever does not transmit to or cause disease in humans. However, it can spread to flies, mosquitoes, chickens, and ducks. While ASF itself does not pose a direct risk to humans, infected pigs may also carry other diseases such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), foot-and-mouth disease, and swine flu, which can be dangerous to human health and even life-threatening.

It’s important to note that pork from infected pigs may not be as fresh and nutritious as expected, so it’s best to avoid consuming it.

Consumers should not panic or boycott pork products. Instead, they can continue to confidently purchase and consume safe, disease-free pork that has been hygienically processed.

3. Choosing a Reputable Meat Supplier

To protect the health of your family, it’s crucial to select reputable shops or supermarkets that adhere to regulated slaughtering, stamping, and labeling practices. Reputable options include our store, Coopmart, Co.opFood, and Co.opXtra. These large supermarket chains ensure the safety and quality of their meat products.

We hope that through this article, homemakers and consumers can gain a better understanding of African Swine Fever, how to identify and prevent it, and feel more confident in their pork purchases.

Frequently asked questions

No, it is not safe to consume pork affected by African Swine Fever (ASF). ASF is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. It does not affect humans, but consuming contaminated pork can lead to serious health risks.

The symptoms of ASF in pigs include high fever, depression, loss of appetite, redness of the skin, vomiting, diarrhea, and coughing. Pigs infected with ASF usually die within a few days to a few weeks.

ASF can be transmitted to pigs through direct contact with infected pigs, consumption of contaminated food or water, or exposure to contaminated objects or materials. It can also be spread by ticks, which can carry the virus for long periods of time.

To prevent the spread of ASF, it is important to maintain strict biosecurity measures on pig farms, including controlling the movement of people, vehicles, and equipment, and properly disinfecting facilities and equipment. It is also crucial to report any suspected cases of ASF to the relevant authorities and to safely dispose of any infected pig carcasses.

Currently, there are no effective treatments or vaccines available for ASF. The focus of control measures is on prevention, early detection, and rapid response to any suspected cases.