August 5, 2024
ASF threat looms over Philippine swine industry as rainy season begins
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has expressed concerns over the heightened risk of African swine fever (ASF) spreading in the country's swine industry due to the rainy season, Rappler reported.
The increased rainfall facilitates the virus's spread through flooding in areas where infected swine have been culled and buried.
"ASF has always been there, it never disappeared. But since it's the rainy season and there's flooding, the chances of it coming out again is big because the virus is in the groundwater, where it was previously buried," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr during a joint press conference with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The conference also announced the "controlled rollout" of Vietnamese-made vaccines to combat ASF, set to start in the third quarter of 2024.
Secretary Laurel reported early signs of ASF re-emergence in Batangas and Mindoro Island but reassured the public that there was "no reason to panic at the moment." He emphasised that the vaccines the DA plans to procure next month could significantly reduce the risk of ASF outbreaks.
Areas identified as susceptible to ASF will be classified into "red or pink zones," where Vietnam's AVAC vaccine will be distributed under controlled conditions.
Veterinarian Dr Constante Palabrica, now serving as the assistant secretary for swine and poultry at the DA, noted the impact of floods on ASF-prone areas. Dr Palabrica, with over 40 years of experience in commercial farming, was appointed to his current position by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in March.
ASF first appeared in 2019, causing severe damage to commercial farms and backyard growers in affected countries, including the Philippines. Outbreaks led to mandatory culling, even of swine not infected, as a single case could devastate an entire herd. The Philippines' swine population decreased from 12.7 million in 2018 to 9.9 million in September 2023, resulting in higher pork prices. As of July 26, the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) identified active ASF cases in 45 towns across 18 provinces.
Secretary Laurel announced that the DA has allocated a budget of PHP 350 million (US$6 million) for procuring approximately 600,000 doses of Vietnam's AVAC vaccine, potentially by August. An initial batch of 150,000 doses may be available by September. A public bidding process will determine the supplier for the remaining 450,000 doses.
Secretary Laurel has visited Vietnam twice to observe the vaccine's use firsthand. The vaccines will be distributed free of charge to select swine farms, with priority given to those in red and pink zones identified by the DA.
FDA Director General Samuel Zacate announced that the AVAC vaccine has received a certificate of product registration under monitored release (CPR MR), permitting restricted use solely by the BAI. The CPR MR is valid for two years and requires "strict monitoring and annual evaluation."
The Vietnamese vaccine underwent clinical trials in 2023, and the BAI determined it to be "100% safe and efficacious." Independent experts will recommend whether to revoke or continue the vaccine's use based on the controlled rollout's results. Full registration will only be granted if the outcomes are positive.
Zacate cautioned traders against selling the vaccine, stating that the FDA would act against any unauthorised sales.
Secretary Laurel stated that a successful vaccine rollout in the red and pink zones could achieve herd immunity, boosting business confidence to reinvest and repopulate their swine herds. This could potentially lead to lower pork prices by 2025, he added.
The DA reported that the BAI is working with stakeholders to finalise guidelines for the controlled use of ASF vaccines. Public consultations will be held to ensure the guidelines are comprehensive and effectively implemented.
The BAI will assess the vaccine's efficacy based on predefined criteria before recommending approval and registration to the FDA.
- Rappler
