June 14, 2022

ASF test kit developed in Philippines may be available by end-2022

A test kit developed in the Philippines and that could detect African swine fever (ASF) may be available by the end of the year, while research is also underway for a possible vaccine against the disease, the country's Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said on June 8.

DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevarra said the ASF test kit would eliminate the need to cull all pigs within the outbreak area, preventing possible pork supply problems.

"Once we have this detection kit, we no longer need to kill all hogs, Guevara said. "We can detect which pigs are sick and those are the only ones that should be culled. The unaffected ones need not be killed."

The DOST earlier this year provided some ₱16 million (US$300,192) in funding for Bioassets Corp. to develop the test kits and the ASF vaccine.

The research firm was also tasked to create a high containment mobile laboratory unit in Mindanao to help respond to outbreaks and fast-track testing using pig blood.

"They will prioritise the test kit and maybe, it can be released by the end of the year or early next year," Guevara added. "It may take them two years to develop the vaccine so maybe, it will be available by the end of 2023 or 2024."

The official said it was still unclear how much the test kits or the vaccine would cost. But she said the government would shoulder the cost until authorities allow its commercial use.

- ABS-CBN News