The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced on Monday
that fourteen out of 20 blood samples from sickly pigs that eventually died in
piggeries were tested positive of African swine fever.
As reported by Inquirer, the blood samples were sent to the
United Kingdom for laboratory test.
In a press conference, Agriculture Secretary William Dar
said “We received late last week the laboratory test results coming from the
United Kingdom on this test called polymerase chain reaction test. And 20 blood
samples have been sent. And out of the 20 blood samples, 14 are positive with
African Swine Fever,”
“7,416 have been depopulated. When I say depopulated, kasama
na ‘yun apektado at hindi apektado within the one kilometer radius,” the
Agriculture chief said
When asked of the areas affected with the African swine
fever, Dar said it’s mostly in Rizal, particularly Rodriguez and Antipolo and
in Guiguinto, Bulacan.
Dar pointed out that disease could be carried to local farmers
from food scraps receive from hotels or restaurants that were being fed to the hogs.
Meanwhile, CNN Philippines reported that African swine fever
can only be transferred to pigs while humans can carry the disease and spread
it.
The DA has also ordered strict certification of live animals
and processed pork products, especially those that are for trade
internationally.
Palace, on the other hand, assured the citizens that there
is nothing to worry about as it is confident that the Agriculture department is
doing its best to manage the swine fever in the country.
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