Mexican gov't extends post-flu pork campaign
08:20, 17 June 2009
MEXICO CITY. June 17. KAZINFORM The Mexican government Tuesday launched measures to encourage pork consumption, which declined sharply after the outbreak of A/H1N1 flu in the country, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
The Agriculture Ministry will organize tastings of pork products in 713 ministry-run Rural Development Support Centers and 193 District Development Offices, the ministry said in a statement.
"It is important to continue supporting this sector, so that it can return to growth," Agriculture Minister Alberto Cardenas Jimenez said at a ceremony launching the campaign, co-hosted by Enrique Avila Segura, president of the Mexican Pork Farmers Federation.
The disease, which has killed 108 people in the country, was initially called swine flu, until the World Health Organization requested a name change because the virus contained a blend of bird, pig and human viruses, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www/chinaview.cn for full version.