HK experts see no mutation in swine flu - paper
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A deadly pig-borne disease that has killed 36 people in southwestern China is caused by one type of bacteria and is not a mutated or new strain, a Hong Kong newspaper said on Tuesday.
Three Hong Kong health experts investigating the outbreak in Sichuan province have identified the bacteria as Streptococcus suis and found no evidence that the victims had been infected by any other bacteria, the South China Morning Post reported.
Some scientists had speculated that the disease could be a new variant of swine flu or a different bug altogether given the unusually high number of people who have contracted it and its high mortality rate.
Nearly 200 people have been infected since the outbreak was first reported in June.
Though endemic in swine, human infections of Streptococcus suis are rare.
The bacteria in infected pigs can find its way into humans via open wounds and minor cracks under the fingernails. But it is susceptible to heat of over 100 C (212 F), and thoroughly cooked pork is safe to eat.
Hong Kong last week reported two cases of the disease but health officials said on Monday the risk of an outbreak in the southern Chinese territory was low. Hong Kong imports most of its food from mainland China but also has some pig farms.
To better monitor the situation, the government said on Monday it would classify Streptococcus suis as a statutorily notifiable disease, which would require all local doctors to report such cases to the government.
The government has also stepped up inspections and quarantine procedures on live pigs and frozen pork imported from mainland provinces, and said it would crack down on illegal pork imports.
China’ Ministry of Health said that as of Monday, 198 people had been affected, including 38 laboratory-confirmed cases. Among the patients, 36 died and 18 were discharged. In Hong Kong there has been 11 infections reported since May last year.
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