Sunday, April 21, 2024

Tag: ASF

Authorities investigating deaths of warty pigs in Bukidnon protected area

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY — At least nine warty pigs (Sus philippensis) died from still unknown causes within the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park last year, the chief of the Protected Area Management Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Bukidnon said on January 31, 2023

The warty pigs, which are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, were found dead in three areas—Barangay Kaatuan in Lantapan town, Barangay San Vicente in Baungon town, and Barangay Mapayag in Malaybalay City—according to Protected Area Superintendent Merlita L. Tabamo.

Five of them were found dead in Kaatuan, three in September and two in November 2022. Two each were found dead in San Vicente and Mapayag, Tabamo said.

She noted that all of the nine animals showed no wounds and other indications that they were physically harmed.

Tabamo said her office had reported the incidents to the eight local government units around Mt. Kitanglad Range and Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque.

She also instructed the Kitanglad Guard Volunteers to be on alert for similar incidents during their monthly patrols.

The official added that personnel from the Provincial Veterinary Office have offered to help identify the cause of the deaths of the warty pigs. Aside from examining the carcasses of the pigs, they will also conduct tests on live ones.

Tabamo cited that based on their monitoring the warty pig population in Mt. Kitanglad Range increased in 2020 and 2021 but showed a decline in 2022.

She said if the deaths continued, it could affect the local population of the warty pigs, which play an important role in conservation by dispersing the seeds of some plant species.

She said they could not say for now that the warty pigs were infected with the African Swine Fever or another kind of virus.

Bukidnon was not included as a hotspot of the ASF after the disease infected several hogs in parts of Mindanao starting in 2019.

But as a safety measure, DENR-Bukidnon has issued an order banning the entry of swine, pork, and pork products into the park effective Feb. 1.

Tabamo said the Kitanglad Guard Volunteers will enforce the order on all visitors entering the park. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno/MindaNews)

ASF virus can survive in a frozen meat for a longer time – BAI official

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (March 1) – The African Swine Fever (ASF) virus can survive in frozen meat for a longer period, an official of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said.

Dr. Scarlet V. Soriano of the Bureau of Animal Industry – Veterinary Quarantine Services Region 10 (BAI VQS R10) said, based on data from the Food and Agriculture European Food Authority, the ASF virus can survive in frozen meat for 1,000 days, chilled meat for 105 days, salted meat for 182 days, smoked and deboned meat- 30 days, dried meat for 300 days, skin/fat (dried) for 300 days, offal’s for 105 days, refrigerated blood for six years, blood stored at 37 ° C for one month and it will only die if the pork is cooked for 30 minutes under 70 degree Celsius heat.

Mr. Hansel T. Echavez, supervising administrative officer of Public Affairs, Information, and Assistance of the governor’s office, shared the information in a press statement on Feb. 26.

“The virus can also survive in pig dung or feces for 80 days, 45 days in urine, and 30 days in a contaminated pen. ASF quickly spreads, and so far, no vaccine or cure has been discovered. Pet pigs can be contagious to other pigs within 24 to 48 hours before symptoms are found, and there is 100 percent pig mortality,” Dr. Soriano said.

Mr. Echavez said in line with this, the Provincial Veterinary Office urged the 464 Barangay Captains of the province to set up their Bantay ASF in the Barangay and strictly enforce the set laws for the purpose that ASF will never enter Bukidnon.

He said Dr. Soriano also urged backyard swine raisers or hog breeders to enforce basic biosecurity protocol on their farm strictly.

“The Bukidnon Provincial Government continues to strictly prohibit processed goods or frozen meats made from pork, such as chorizo, longganisa, ham, and bacon, from entering the province to prevent the ASF virus from infecting,” Mr. Echavez said.

He also said the Provincial Government is preparing for a possible ASF outbreak through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVet) by creating a workshop/action plan to develop joint actions/plans, activities, and procedures in the two cities and 20 towns in Bukidnon.

According to the latest information, the boundary barangays of Macasandig, Mambuaya, San Simon, Baikingon, Agusan, Upper Puerto, Tablon, and Patag in Cagayan de Oro are ASF positive. And more recently, the town of Loreto, Agusan Del Sur, is also positive, which a boundary in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.

Mr. Echavez said people must be vigilant at all times. In case of getting information on suspected ASF cases, it must be reported immediately to the established hotline numbers of the Provincial Veterinary Office 0917-310-7439 and PGO-Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division number 0917-765-9016.

SMC to close Monterey piggeries in Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (Feb. 04) – San Miguel Corp. (SMC) management has decided to shut down all of its Monterey affiliated piggeries in Bukidnon due to African Swine Fever (ASF) that hits Luzon.

Mr. Hansel D. Echavez, supervising administrative officer of Public Affairs, Information and Assistance (PAIA) Division of the provincial Governor’s Office said, Mr. Christopher Pangga, regional operations Manager of San Miguel Foods, Inc., confirmed the information to members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bukidnon at the August body’s regular session held at the SP Session Hall in the city on Feb. 2.

“Pangga disclosed that the last and final breeding period in their affiliated piggeries will be this March 1,” Echavez said.

Echavez said Atty. Nemesio N. Beltran Jr., the second legislative district provincial board member, called the presence of SMC officials, hog raisers, and other government officials to give clarification on the recent condition of the swine industry in the province.

“Mr. Pangga said the closure is the effect of ASF that hits Luzon that also affects their operation in Bukidnon aside from the difficulty they experienced in managing their business due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic,” the PAIA chief said.

Echavez said Pangga clarified that only their piggery operation is affected while their poultry operations in the province will continue.

He said hog raisers are deeply saddened by the company’s decision, which will greatly affect their investments and employees.

“Mr. Raul Valmores, the provincial head of DOLE-Bukidnon Provincial Field Office, said they are ready to assist the affected employees in the hog raising industry,” Echavez said.

He said Dr. Nancy V. Diez; provincial veterinarian disclosed that Region 10 has a total of 1,059,320 swine comprising 604,132 from backyard farms and 455,188 from commercial farms.

Diez said backyard swine farms in Bukidnon had contributed 212,946 heads in the region, while 397,653 were traded from commercial farms.

Diez cited the figure based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Survey in 2020 for the total inventory of the Swine Population in the region.

Echavez said if SMC’s plan to stop their piggery operations in Bukidnon will continue, a big impact on pork prices is expected in the province.

In line with this, he said the 13 Provincial Veterinary Sanitation Checkpoints will continue to be closely monitored. That is in accordance with Executive Order No. 35, series of 2020 issued by Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr., dated August 18, 2020, not to include pork, pork as well as pork by-products to avoid the entry of ASF here in Bukidnon.