Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow has assured consumers that although the human swine flu virus has been found in a local pig, other pigs at the farm will not be sold until their swine-flu tests are cleared.

The Government recently found the virus during a regular surveillance exercise. Neither the farm workers nor other pigs have flu symptoms.

"We have also advised that the pigs from this farm are not sent to the abattoir until we have cleared the test to make sure it is negative [for the virus]," Dr Chow told reporters today, adding pork consumption is safe.

He said the pig may have been infected either by the workers who might have carried the virus onto the farm or other pigs, usually breeding pigs, imported from the Mainland which might also have carried the virus.

Dr Chow urged pig farmers to be vaccinated when the inoculation programme starts on December 21, noting the consent form is routine to ensure the person receiving the jab knows about the possible side effects.

"It is important for us to let the public know what we are advising and the risks they are facing," Dr Chow said, noting at least 50 million people worldwide have received the vaccine safely.