The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine will soon be available for commercial distribution. The commercial trial for the vaccines is scheduled to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within two weeks, as per a statement from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated, “Malapit nang lumabas ‘yung approval sa vaccine for the swine.” He hopes that once the vaccine is available, it will help prevent the spread of ASF in the Philippines, which has been causing the death of domestic pigs and impacting the meat supply in the market.
Recently, 200 pigs suspected of having ASF died in seven barangays of Manabo, Abra. ASF is a deadly infectious disease in farm-raised pigs.
It’s been advised that it is safe for people to eat pigs that have died from this disease, but the government does not recommend doing so. Pigs that die of ASF are being subjected to culling. The DA plans to monitor imported meat strictly to prevent its entry into the country.
It is said that it is safe for people to eat pigs that have died of such a disease, but the government does not recommend doing so.
Pigs that die of ASF are subjected to culling. For now, he said, the DA will restrict the monitoring of imported meat to ensure that it does not enter the country.
