97% of Asia’s ASF losses in 2 weeks recorded in PHL —OIE

The majority or 97% of the reported losses in Asia due to the African swine fever (ASF) were recorded in the Philippines from August 30 to September 12, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

A report by the OIE World Animal Health Information and Analysis Department showed a total of 9,997 animals across the globe reported to have been affected during the said period.

Over 8,100 of the losses were recorded in Asia, followed by Europe with 1,587, and Africa with 214 losses.

“In Asia, 8,196 losses were notified (7,952 of them notified in the Philippines),” according to the OIE Report No. 26 covering the period August 30 to September 12, 2019.

“On September 9, the Philippines notified the first occurrence of the disease with seven outbreaks affected backyard farms,” the OIE noted.

The Philippine data was transmitted to the OIE by the “Bureau of Animal Industry,” Department of Agriculture spokesperson told GMA News Online.

Asked if the BAI data pertain to culled animals or hog deaths or both, Reyes said, “We will confirm with the BAI.”

According to the OIE, the Losses due to ASF outbreaks were notified through the WAHIS (World Animal Health Information System) within the period.

“The impact of this disease is measured in terms of losses, which are calculated by the sum of dead and culled animals from the infected farm or backyard premises of the reported outbreak.”

Last week, the Agriculture department confirmed that blood samples from pigs in the Philippines were found positive of ASF.

The samples were collected from hogs in three barangays in the Rizal province where some 100 pigs died last month. These were then sent to the World Reference Laboratory in Pirbright, England for confirmatory testing.

The government said it has strengthened the implementation of the “1-7-10 Protocol,” a quarantine and monitoring scheme to contain the movement of pork and pork products, including live animals, and prevent the disease from spreading.

Under the protocol, all hogs within a 1-kilometer radius from the affected area will be culled, while strict surveillance is in place within a 7-kilometer radius, and a 10-kilometer radius for food security area.

The DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council has allocated P60 million in loan assistance to hog raisers hit by the ASF.

OIC’s Report No. 26  placed the total number of verified ASF outbreaks worldwide to 8,239 of which 6,083 outbreaks were recorder in Vietnam alone.

During the period covered by the report, “344 new outbreaks were notified.”

In the previous Report No. 25, “298 were notified as new, while 8,075 outbreaks were ongoing,” the OIE said. —With Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News