PETA activists ask people to turn vegetarian to avoid swine flu

Mumbai, May 8 (ANI): Activists of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged a roadside campaign in Mumbai on Thursday to propagate vegetarianism following threats of swine flu.

The highlights of this campaign were activists dressed like a pig and nurses holding placards, which read 'Prescription For Swine Flu, Go Vegetarian'.

They contended that abstaining from consumption of pork can curb the menace of swine flu.

"We are here to let people know that getting away with swine flu problem is as simple as that putting meat away from your diet.... Putting pork away from your plate. Just to go vegetarian. Once you go vegetarian there won't be a need of pig farms as it is being clarified by various newspapers that swine flu is occurring just because of filth in the pig farms," said Nikunj Sharma, Campaign Coordinator, PETA.

Ever since swine flu infected a number of people in as many as 15 countries, hospitals in India have taken preventive measures to tackle the epidemic.

Earlier this week, the Central Government sounded an alert across tIndia following the arrival of six passengers from abroad who showed symptoms of fever and common cold.

The World Health Organization has reported 658 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection with 17 deaths from sixteen countries.

There are 160 laboratory confirmed human cases in USA with one death. Mexico has reported 397 cases including sixteen deaths.

Other countries which have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths are: Austria (1), Canada (51), Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) (1), Costa Rica (1) Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (6), Israel (3), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1) Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and United Kingdom (15). (ANI)