Indonesia bans pork imports on swine flu concerns

Indonesia has temporarily banned pork imports following a deadly outbreak of swine flu that started in Mexico, said a senior government official Monday (April 27).

Social Welfare Minister Abu Rizal Bakrie said Indonesia imports most of its pork products from Singapore, which would be the worst-affected by the ban.

The country will also start monitoring its local hog population for signs of swine flu. Bakrie said this will involve deploying 30,000 surveillance officers across the country to check 9 million pigs.

Ports and air terminals across Indonesia have also been placed on alert and have been equipped with thermal scanners to identify possible infection among travellers.

Bakrie said tourists from North America arriving at Indonesia's s 10 airports will have to undergo health screening before they are allowed into the country. Those showing signs of flu-like symptoms will have to be quarantined, he added.