Smugglers, lax traders behind ASF spread
Credit to Author: Eireene Jairee Gomez| Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:21:51 +0000
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has blamed smugglers and uncooperative hog traders for the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the Philippines.
Since the virus was confirmed in the country in August last year, at least 130 outbreaks have been recorded, the DA said in its recent report to the World Organization for Animal Health, also known as OIE.
“Number one na problem natin ay smuggling (Our main problem is smuggling). Mas marami nang nasabat kaysa dati (We have seized a lot compared to before) meaning the mechanisms in place are much better than before pero ang Pilipino masyadong smart (but Filipinos are very smart). That’s the trend and it’s continuous up until today. [These are kept at the very inside], the pork, pork products and the like,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in news conference on Monday.
The wholesale smuggling of ASF-laden pork and pork products from China has been blamed for the entry of ASF into the Philippines.
The growing number of outbreaks prompted at least 65 provinces to impose a ban on processed pork products.
The virus does not pose a threat to humans but could decimate the swine population.
In wake of the new cases of ASF infections in Northern Luzon and Mindanao, Dar warned hog traders to cooperate with the government in an effort to manage, control and stop the spread of the ASF.
“Number two is ‘yung mga hog traders na nagsasamantala. Kinukubli, hindi pinapaalam sa mga awtoridad (Our second problem is the hog traders taking advantage. They hide their pigs and they do not report to the authorities),” the Agriculture chief said.
There are still outbreaks in Luzon, according to Dar, adding “we are not lowering our guard down.”
“We will continue to enhance our surveillance and again just to remind ourselves that there is a partnership always between the DA, Bureau of Animal Industry and NMIS (National Meat Inspection System) with local government units,” he said.
The ASF is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs of all ages.
It is characterized by high fever, loss of appetite and hemorrhage in the skin and internal organs, often resulting in death, which follow after a few days of infection.
To date, there are no effective preventive vaccines or cures, and the mortality rate is as high as 100 percent.
The ASF does not pose a health risk to humans, according to the World Organization for Animal Health.
Humans, however, could become carriers of the virus once tainted pork is ingested.