Is Pork Safe to Eat Currently?

Article by: Hari Yellina

To avoid the spread of the possibly fatal Japanese encephalitis virus, pig farmers are being vaccinated, and abattoirs have intensified their spraying efforts. Five people in New South Wales have tested positive for the mosquito-borne sickness, and a 70-year-old Griffith man died from it last month. The newest confirmed case in the state — and the first for the rural city — is a 60-year-old man from Goulburn. After being treated in the hospital, he is now rehabilitating in a rehabilitation facility. The origin of his infection is being investigated, according to NSW Health.

They’ve also warned residents to “be watchful,” saying that additional cases are expected in the coming days as more people are examined. No piggery workers have tested positive for the disease yet, according to Australian Pork Limited. Humans cannot contract the disease by consuming hog flesh, but mosquitoes can transmit the virus from animals to humans. Ninety-nine percent of those who have the disease show no symptoms or have a very minor illness, and less than one percent of instances result in a potentially fatal brain infection.        

The presence of underdeveloped pig foetuses is one sign of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection in livestock. Jason Bates owns a free-range pig farm near Stockinbingal, and he has identified JEV in his swine in recent weeks, as have numerous other piggeries in the Riverina. Mr. Bates suspected his pigs were infected in December, but he hoped the threat had subsided as mosquito activity decreased throughout the autumn. “Three weeks ago, we saw some unusual litters; we forwarded that on to the vet and subsequently to the Department of Primary Industries,” he said, alluding to cases where sows miscarried undeveloped embryos. “At the same time, a lot of other farms in the vicinity were seeing the same thing.

“At first, we were hampered by reproductive losses, but we’re now seeing some pretty excellent rebound.” “It’ll put a dent in what we’re doing, but we don’t simply have pigs,” says the narrator. The virus has been immunised against Mr. Bates’ family and coworkers. He stressed the need of spreading the word that Australian pork poses no food safety risks. Mr Bates explained, “We sell to specialty butcher shops in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a local butcher.”