DAVAO ORIENTAL – Governor Nelson Dayanghirang has recently issued an order temporarily banning swine or pork-based products coming from Luzon and other African Swine Fever-affected areas from entering the province.

The Governor’s Executive Order 29 states that “all swine or pork-related products and by-products whether edible or non-edible, whether raw, processed or cooked, including but not limited frozen boar semen” coming from affected-areas as well as imported canned goods from affected countries  are strictly prohibited from entering the province as a measure to protect the public as well as the swine industry of the province from the disease that has already economically devastated some areas in Luzon.

Moreover, the said order also prohibits feeding swill (locally known as “lamaw”) or left over food scraps to pigs, especially those coming from restaurants, hotels, and other food establishments.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Eric Dagmang, however, assures that Davao Oriental and other neighboring municipalities are safe and free from the disease. “There is no reason to be worried. The cases are confined in the areas of Luzon, particularly Rizal and Bulacan,” he said, adding that the African Swine Fever is not contagious to human.

While swine fever does not affect humans as it exclusively affects swine, the disease poses massive devastation on the swine industry which could drastically affect the local economy, raising a huge concern among hog-raisers.

“The important thing now is to establish preventive measures,” said Dr. Dagmang, noting that the virus spreads rapidly.

Preventive Measures

The Provincial Veterinarian’s Office has called on all swine raisers to practice strict biosecurity measures in farms by not feeding pigswill and to impose limited access of people to pig farms.

He urged hog-raises to report immediately and coordinate with their local Veterinarian’s Office of any suspicious incidence of mortality of raised pigs.

Hotel and restaurant operators are also ordered to properly dispose left-over foods and waste while meat vendors are mandated not to process or sell illegal meat products.

To properly execute and monitor these measures, Governor Dayanghirang has earlier issued Executive Order 28 creating a Provincial African Swine Fever Task Force to tackle the swine fever scare.

The Task Force is divided into teams composed of various offices and agencies who will take charge on the rapid action, surveillance, quarantine, census; and public information, education and communication.

Basis for the creation of the local Task Force is the Administrative Order from the Department of Agriculture “reiterating Food Safety Measures and Veterinary Quarantine Procedure”. The order tasks the Veterinarian’s Office of all Local Government Units to continue implementing precautionary measures to ensure food safety and food security such as prohibiting transportation of live animals, meat products and meat by-products unless accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC) issued by a licensed veterinarian and Shipping Permit issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and its Regional Veterinary Quarantine Offices (RVQS).

African Swine Fever is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. A virus that can survive up to 1,000 days, the mode of transmission can be direct or indirect contact with the affected animals or vectors, says Dr. Carl Louie Seravillo, in-charge of the PVET’s Animal Health Section. By Karen Lou Deloso