Swine flu fears prompt pork import bans

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 29 (UPI) -- Countries in Europe, Asia and South America, anxious about the swine flu outbreak, have banned pork imports despite assurances that consuming pork is safe.

At least 10 countries -- from China to Russia to Ecuador -- have set bans on all pork product imports, The New York Times reported.

The bans were imposed despite a World Health Organization declaration that swine flu cannot be contracted by eating pork.

"There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products," WHO, based in Geneva, said in a statement.

The U.S. Agriculture Department and the U.S. trade representative have been assuring trade partners that U.S. pork and pork products are safe to eat, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday.

Malaysia on Wednesday asked WHO to endorse an outright ban on travel out of Mexico, believed by health officials to be ground zero for the outbreak. Mexican health officials said swine flu sickened at least 2,500 people and attributed 159 deaths to the virus.

The Malaysian request came despite a WHO statement that any "restriction of regular travel or closure of borders" was unnecessary because such measures would be ineffective in preventing the spread of the virus.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta advised Americans to "avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico."