By Raadee Sausa September 26, 2002 ASF (Photo from swineweb.com) ...
September 26, 2002
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ASF (Photo from swineweb.com) |
New outbreaks of the African swine fever (ASF) have been monitored in the provinces of Albay, Laguna, Quirino, Batangas, Quezon and Cavite, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said on Thursday.
Dar said the new incidents of ASF outbreaks bring the total number of regions affected to nine.
“Ang mga kawani ng Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ay nandiyan in partnership with the local government units na nag-iimplement ng elevated quarantine measures,” Dar said.
The Agriculture chief said the government is giving hog raisers P5,000 as indemnification per pig surrendered for culling. He added that a total of 300,000 pigs have so far been culled as part of depopulation operations against ASF.
The ASF virus is not harmful to humans but it can easily be transmitted because it can stay alive for days on clothes and shoes, in processed meat, and in parasites such as ticks.
The Bureau of Animal Industry, however, assured consumers that ASF will not pose any health risk to humans.
Earlier, it is reported that the series of import bans imposed by the Philippine government on pork and poultry products coming from different countries may result in costlier Christmas for meat loving Filipinos.
An official from the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) said this as the Department of Agriculture (DA) signed an order reminding local traders and importers that importation of pork products coming from Germany is still not allowed after the European country reported its first case of ASF.
Dar said DA finalized the memo that will reiterate the country’s import ban on pork from Germany due to ASF.
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