Bahrain has banned the import of pork and pork products from Mexico and the US from where the bulk of the imports come. It will be banned later from other countries too if becomes infected.

The ban notification, issued by the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry, has come into effect from Tuesday, said Health Ministry public health director Dr Khairya Moosa. She said several countries in Europe, Asia and South America have also banned these imports.

'Bahrain is being extra careful and we will take whatever measures that are deemed necessary to prevent an infection from possibly reaching the country,' said Dr Moosa.

The ban has been imposed despite the WHO declaring 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,' the WHO said in a statement.

Meanwhile, supermarkets selling pork and products containing pork have not pulled them off the shelves, our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News has learnt.

'This order does not ban us from selling pork and only bans imports. We shall sell what we have and clear our shelves and not stock up until the ban is lifted,' said an official at Al Jazira Supermarket.-TradeArabia News Service