Shillong, Aug. 21 : The Meghalaya health and animal husbandry departments have initiated measures to allay fears of consuming pork after butchers decided to close shop in the wake of swine flu spreading in the state.
The Shillong’s Pork Butchers’ Association has taken a decision against selling pork from today following a decline in its consumption after the flu outbreak.
“The Centre as well as the state government has not banned consumption of pork as it has nothing to do with the spread of swine flu,” director of health services Dr K.H. Lakiang told reporters today.
He said there was nothing to be afraid about the consumption of pork cooked and served in hygienic conditions.
Dr D. Khonglah, the director of animal husbandry and veterinary, said instructions had already been issued today to all concerned that the H1N1 virus did not spread from pig meat.
“We want to convey to the butchers association and the people at large that there is no harm in consuming cooked pork as the H1N1 virus does not spread from eating pork,” Khonglah said.
Donlang Kharumnuid, the president of Pork Butchers’ Association, said it had decided not to sell pork from today after a decline in consumption had affected trade.
“Because of the spread of swine flu in the state, consumption of pork has come down and as such we are incurring huge losses,” he said.
The animal husbandry department had earlier issued instructions to owners of pig farms to strictly adhere to the hygiene norms.
On the other hand, Lakiang said so far only five positive swine flu cases were reported in the state and that the health department had taken a series of measures to tackle the pandemic.