THE Department of Agriculture said it has initiated a precautionary cull of pigs after receiving reports of increased hog mortality in areas it did not identify, adding that it has not yet confirmed the cause of death pending the results of tests.

“We revived and strengthened the Crisis Management Team to oversee the planning and implementation of appropriate measures to manage, contain, and control the suspected animal disease or diseases,” Secretary William D. Dar said at a news conference Monday in Quezon City.

Reports from international media noted that Taiwan is imposing special baggage checks on passengers from the Philippines after a suspected outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Bulacan and Rizal, which Mr. Dar did not comment on.

ASF is non-treatable and contagious, and can kill swine in as little as two days.

“Kung ano yung may suspected na may disease ay kina-cull out, inaalis, bina-bury, at dini-disinfect yung lugar (Populations suspected to be harboring the disease are culled, removed and buried, and the growing area is disinfected),” he said.

Mr. Dar did not discuss the extent of the hog deaths or the areas affected pending definitive tests. He did say that the death rate was “2% beyond normal” in the areas being looked at. The authorities are currently not ruling out any other disease as the possible cause, he said.

“We have to be science-based, technology-based. Hintayin natin yung resulta at gagawin natin lahat ng measures (Let us wait for the result then we will do all that is needed) to respond to the final conclusions of those confirmatory tests,” he said. Results are expected to be completed in two weeks at the earliest.

DA officers have been collecting blood samples from the herd for testing.

The department follows a 1-7-10 quarantine procedure in case of a suspected outbreak, with hogs within a one-kilometer radius to be immediately culled and buried while area is disinfected. The next layer is a seven-kilometer radius, defined as the surveillance area for testing and sampling. Within 10 kilometers, entry and exit of animals is strictly monitored.

“I don’t want to issue a false alarm… step-by-step naman tayo (we should be step-by-step)… we are going slowly but we are sure we are doing our best to contain this. We will issue regular bulletins so we will give out the right information,” he said.

He also asked pork sellers not to take advantage of the situation.

Rosendo O. So, chairman of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) also assured consumers that the supply of pork is adequate.

“Sa ngayon yung supply sa mga (As of now supply of) live hogs [is] normal lahat walang problema (there is no problem),” he said after the news conference. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

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