According to Moses Bikala, reporting for The New Vision, a survey of pork joints by The New Vision in Namatala, Nkoma and Malukhu slums in Mbale town, indicated poor business.

Fred Isabirye, a pork seller at Aguba malwa drinking joint in the Namatala slums, said most of his customers had resorted to eating roast goat or cow meat for fear of contracting swine flu.

“We appeal to the Government to sensitise the people about the disease,” he said.

Isabirye added that before the outbreak of swine flu he could sell up to 120 kilogrammes daily. This declined to under 50 kilogrammes despite reducing the price to sh3,100 from sh3,600.

Isabirye expressed worry over the situation because he had got a sh580,000 loan from Pride Micro Finance in Mbale to start the pork business, but was yet to complete repayment.

The district health officer, Dr. Francis Abwaimo, assured the public not to panic since no case of suspected swine flu infection had been reported in the country as yet.

He said measures had been put in place to control disease in the district and its surrounding areas.