African Swine Fever hits the Philippines, Agriculture chief confirms






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.



Source: Inquirer, KAMI







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