Beijing - China suspended imports of pigs and pork products from Mexico and three US states Monday, following the death of at least 20 Mexicans from an outbreak of swine flu. The agriculture ministry and China's quality watchdog issued a joint notice suspending all imports of live pigs or products containing pork from Mexico and the US states of Texas, California and Kansas.

In another emergency notice issued Sunday, the health ministry reassured the public that there is no evidence to suggest people can contract swine flu by eating pork.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine published an earlier emergency notice Saturday night, asking people entering China from virus-hit countries to report any flu-like symptoms and ordered border inspectors to check the temperatures of incoming passengers.

The China Daily newspaper on Monday quoted an official at Beijing's Capital International Airport as saying inspectors were on "high alert" and were operating three temperature monitors.

"Passengers flying in from Mexico and other swine flu-hit countries are being monitored closely," the official said.

Temperature monitors were installed at most Chinese airports during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003.