“We are prepared to respond to all scenarios,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar declared after announcing the result of the confirmatory Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test on the swine blood samples collected from small backyard farms in Rizal Province.
Secretary Dar also announced that the Department of Agriculture (DA) still awaits the result of the viral isolation test that is more definitive in terms of identifying the nature of the virus detected.
The PCR test result from the World Reference Laboratory in Pirthbright, England, which is also the World Organization for Animal Health Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (ASF), confirmed that majority of the blood samples were ASF positive.
According to the European Union Reference Laboratory for ASF, the PCR amplifies small fragments of viral DNA to detectable quantities enabling rapid diagnosis of ASF. The PCR test result serves as basis for authorities to perform necessary measures accordingly.
“Hindi pa natin alam ngayon how virulent these viruses are. Hihintayin pa natin kung ito ba ay weak or harmful ASF,” he said.
Dar assured the public that the DA is on top of the situation during the press briefing of the DA Crisis Management Team (CMT) on Swine held on September 9, 2019.
“We have already suspended the ground operations in Rizal and will now focus on cleaning and disinfection operations,” he reported.
“We will remain vigilant and continue to vigorously conduct surveillance and quarantine measures,” he added.
The DA directed the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to collect and send blood samples for testing after receiving reports of suspected swine disease.
The Crisis Management Task Force on Swine supervises the implementation of appropriate measures to effectively manage, contain, and control the situation, while the Quick Response Teams at the DA Regional Field Offices are active to implement complementary measures.
Dar stressed, “We will strengthen our collaboration with industry stakeholders, LGUs and other partners to protect our animal population against emerging diseases, and ensure safe meat and meat products for pork-loving Filipinos.” ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)
