BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental blocked the entry of P15.4-million worth of pork and poultry products – a preemptive move against the possible spread of the African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza or bird flu.
This preventive move is not new. In 2020, the PVO either blocked or intercepted P5-million worth of pork and pork products.
PVO head Dr. Renante Decena said some were sent back to their points of origin while others were confiscated and destroyed either by incinerating them or burying them deep in the ground so as to render them unusable.
In the first quarter of 2021 alone, the PVO seized P2.5-million worth of pork products.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, whose mortality rate can reach 100 percent. It is not a danger to human health, but it has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economy.
There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF. The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon. Therefore, human behavior can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not taken.
On the other hand, avian influenza refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred.
Since implementing the ban on poultry products, Decena said, the PVO intercepted P7.9 million worth of them.
Negros Occidental banned the entry of poultry products beginning March 1 after cases of bird flu in Central and Southern Luzon, and in Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao were reported.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) itself ordered stricter measures against bird flu. The movement of ducks, quail, chicken, and other poultry products in affected areas, particularly those located within one kilometer of a quarantine area, is now regulated.
Farm owners must comply with the transport requirements in compliance with the prescribed surveillance period, diagnostic tests, and biosecurity protocol of the World Organization for Animal Health./PN
