Philippines upgrades Ebola testing facility

The Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) last week inaugurated the renovation of the Ebola Diagnostic Laboratory (EDL) at the Philippine Animal Health Center.

"We need the EDL for exports later on especially now that the Asean Free Trade Area is already in place," said Francisco Buencamino, executive director of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc.

The renovated laboratory has the capacity to conduct antigen and antibody detection of the Ebola Reston Virus (ERV). The animal bureau said the laboratory provides vital support in the rapid diagnosis, active surveillance and monitoring of REBOV in the field.

It also plays a major role in establishing the prevalence of ERV in swine and in understanding better the animal-human-wildlife interface.

Moreover, BAI said the laboratory results will serve as the basis in strengthening policies on livestock production and food safety. The bureau spent PHP1.55 million on the laboratory and equipment.

The renovation of the laboratory is in line with FAO's project dubbed as the "Emergency Assistance for Early Detection, Response and Control of ERV in Swine and other Swine Diseases in the Philippines."

The non-profit organisation has helped the local animal bureau with the purchase of some PHP600 million worth of laboratory equipment and supplies.

Earlier, the Philippines was supposed to ship 50,000 tonnes of pork (to Singapore for the first time, but the Philippine government voluntarily stopped the export after traces of low pathogenic ERV were found on some hog farms in the country.