Public discouraged from purchasing

pork products from China, HK, Vietnam
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

According to Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office head, Dr. Renante Decena, there is currently no African swine fever threat in the province. The disease is currently ravaging hog farms in China and nearby Southeast Asian countries.
Based on studies conducted by veterinarians outside the Philippines, the infection is believed to have originated from ornithodoros, a type of soft-bodied tick. Hogs are infected after they are bitten by the tick, which then contaminates their blood.
Decena pointed out, the virus has no effect to humans but there is a need for strict monitoring at airports and seaports in order to prevent the virus from entering the country.
He also advised consumers to avoid buying pork products from China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.
China recently culled over a million pigs in a bid to control the spread of the virus.
China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported, the outbreak has caused country’s pig population to decline by nearly 40 million to 375.3 million from a year earlier.
Analysts, however, believe China has been underreporting the situation./DGB, WDJ