‘No assurance Luzon pork now free from ASF virus’

ILOILO – There is still no assurance that pork and pork products from Luzon are now free from the African swine fever (ASF) virus, according to Dr. Darel Tabuada of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).

Extending the ban on Luzon pork would be prudent, he said, to protect Iloilo’s swine industry.

Oct. 22 last year, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. issued Executive Order No. 159-A temporarily banning for 90 days pork from the Luzon provinces of Rizal and Bulacan and countries positive for the disease (Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Belgium, Bulgaria, Moldova, Czech Republic, South Africa, Zambia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, South Korea, China and its special administrative region Hong Kong).

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs. It causes them to have high fever and lose appetite. It also causes hemorrhages in the skin and internal organs.

There is no known vaccine against ASF yet. According to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), death is certain. Pigs die in a span of two to 10 days upon affliction.

Tabuada assured consumers that despite the ban Iloilo remains sufficient in pork supply.

“We have 200 percent surplus so even if we ban pork products from Luzon we will be sustained. We have sources from Cebu and Cagayan,” Tabuada said.

But for the governor to make a sound decision on the possible extension of the temporary ban, Tabuada said his office would be requesting for updates from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry on the ASF situation in Luzon and other areas.

“We will study, together with our governor, on how long the ban would be based on the update from the Department of Agriculture,” Tabuada said.

ASF is not considered a human health threat. However, humans can become carriers of the virus once tainted pork is ingested or if people get close to the infected meat, according to the NMIS.

The virus can also survive even if the meat has been processed or canned, it added.

Tabuada said the PVO is making sure ASF won’t enter the province. Entry points are being monitored such as seaports and airports.

The provincial government has also intensified its ASF information dissemination to the public, particularly the hog raisers, said Tabuada. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)

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