Illustration: The Philippines is known to be the world's eighth-biggest pork producer. (Image via CDC)

Swine flu in the Philippines, more than 7,000 pigs slaughtered

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Business & Industry
Agriculture& Livestock
Sep 09, 2019
2857
On Monday (9/9), the Philippines declared first African swine flu cases, an epidemic that some researchers referred to as the biggest in history. African swine flu killed swine from Slovakia to China, causing an astronomical surge of pork price worldwide.

The Philippines, as the world’s eighth-biggest pork producer, found the cases in two towns near to its capital, Manila. Precisely, seven villages’ cattle were struck by pestilence. The Philippines’ authority had to kill more than 7,000 pigs within 1 Km radius to prevent the pestilence from infecting other animals.

Fortunately, the African swine flu does not infect humans, according to the research by the World Organization for Animal Health.

Philippines’ Agriculture Secretary, William Dar, stated that 16 from 20 blood samples, sent to a British lab, showed a positive result for African swine flu. However, Dar stated that further test was required, and it does not necessarily stop people of the Philippines to consume pork. About 60% of meat consumption in the Philippines consists of pork. The pork industry also supports the livelihood of Filipino people.

The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, approved the permission for the police and the military unit to form a formation to prevent any unwanted outbreak.

China, on the other hand, could not stop the African swine flu from breaking out to its every region, including Hongkong and Hainan. Half of the swine population of the world reside in China.

Since July, the Philippines stopped importing meat from several European nations, including Germany. From Asian nations, the Philippines stopped importing pork and lard from China and Vietnam. In Vietnam, the disease which causes hemorrhagic fever in pigs culled about four million pigs in its outbreak.

The disease has been reported in China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos and North Korea. Due to its high resistance, the disease spreads through cattle’s feed or even shoes, knives, and clothes.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/pig-swine-fever-virus-philippines-11886712

Industry , Livestock , Cattle , Pork , Asia , Philippines