October 16, 2007

Hog cholera remains in some Philippine provinces areas, confirms government

Hog cholera continues to spread in swine farms in some areas in Luzon three months after the highly infectious viral disease broke out, radio dzBB reported on Monday (October 12), quoting an official from the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC).

NMIC officer-in-charge Jane Bacayo reportedly cited recent reports from their monitoring operations indicating that hog cholera is still present in central Luzon.

The report said that while Bacayo did not mention which provinces still have hog cholera, he reportedly said the commission continues to check farms and hog operators in coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry.

The NMIS declared a "red alert" on hog cholera in July in five regions in Luzon, following the infection of several hogs in Bulacan province.

The "red alert" covered Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, central and southern Luzon, Bicol, and Metro Manila.

The NMIC ordered surveillance and inspection of hog farms and slaughterhouses in the provinces and in Metro Manila.

The agency's regulatory division also ordered its personnel to keep watch over unauthorised slaughterhouses operating in Luzon.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said he ordered the setting up of "pork checkpoints" to prevent the delivery of tainted meat to markets.