ILOILO City – Some fear eating pork and chicken due to African Swine Fever (ASF) and the threat of avian influenza-A (H5N1) or bird flu.
ASF is not a zoonotic disease; it does not transfer to humans. Bird flu viruses, on the other hand, can transfer to humans but not through consuming well-cooked food.
But to make sure food are safe from hog and avian diseases, Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) – Health Education and Promotion Officer Arianne Joy Capacio suggested sourcing pork and chicken products from reliable retailers that only sell those that have been inspected and certified as safe for consumption.
If tapping catering services, it is important to check the caterers’ business practices.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), because influenza viruses are inactivated by normal temperatures used for cooking, it is safe to eat properly prepared and cooked meat, including from poultry and game birds.
However, diseased animals and animals that have died of diseases should not be eaten.
“In areas experiencing outbreaks, (poultry) meat products can be safely consumed provided that these items are properly cooked and handled during food preparation. The consumption of raw meat and uncooked blood-based dishes is a high-risk practice and should be discouraged,” the DOH posted on its website.
It is the same with pork. As long it is bought from reliable sources and cooked thoroughly, the health department said pork is safe to eat.
Meanwhile, Capacio discouraged the feeding of food waste to hogs to avoid the possible spread of ASF.
“Daku ang aton responsibility para indi maglapta ang ASF,” she said.
On the other hand, those who think they have been exposed or have been in contact with an infected bird or chicken are advised to immediately inform their healthcare provider or coordinate with the health center.
Human cases of A(H5N1) have been associated thru close contact with infected live or dead birds or its environments.
It can be transmitted to humans through inhalation of infectious aerosols, droplets, direct and indirect contact, and self-inoculation of infectious virus into the nose, eyes, or mouth and through oral-fecal route.
Mild-flu symptoms of bird flu to humans include cough, sore throat, fever, or feverish, fatigue and headache, conjunctivitis (red eye with/without discharge from eyes), moderate-shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing and for severe cases, pneumonia and respiratory failure, among others./PN