Hogs being tested for animal diseases, including ASF —DA

Blood samples from hogs have been sent abroad for testing of various animal diseases as increased mortality has been recorded in several areas, the Department of Agriculture said Monday.

“We directed Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to conduct further confirmatory laboratory tests including sending blood samples to foreign laboratories to ascertain the cause of animals’ death,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a press conference in Quezon City.

BAI submitted last week an incident report on dead pigs raised in backyards.

Samples are being tested for several animal diseases, including the African Swine Fever (ASF), Dar said, noting that confirmatory tests have to be completed before any other announcements are made.

The mortality rate in affected areas increased by 2%, but Dar declined to elaborate.

BAI OIC Ronnie Domingo said the normal mortality rate in the country is 5 to 6%.

Dar decline to elaborate on the present scope of measures in place and the areas where the dead pigs were recorded.

The areas are now being closely monitored, he said.

“We will not mention where, because the containment and control of the suspected animal disease is underway and we don’t want people to go to those areas,” he said.

The tests  will take from two weeks to three months, but Dar said the BAI has already quarantined the affected areas.

“Immediately, we revived and strengthened the Crisis Management Team (CMT) to oversee the planning and implementation of appropriate measures to manage, contain, and control the suspected animal disease or diseases,” Dar said.

“We also ordered the CMT to work closely with key industry players and local government officials to manage the incident and carry out ground-level operations," he elaborated.

According to Dar, the areas are now following the 1-7-10 protocol to prevent any disease from spreading beyond the quarantined areas.

All hogs under a 1-kilometer radius from the affected area will be culled, with a 7-kilometer radius for a surveillance area, and a 10-kilometer radius for food security area.

“With this development, we have further upgraded our monitoring and vigilance, including the imposition of stricter quarantine measures all over the country’s ports of entry, airports, and seaports,” he said.

“We assure animal industry stakeholders and the general public that we are on top of the situation, and we are doing everything possible,” Dar added. —VDS, GMA News