Death of Pigs in Luzon: Rappler

Refusing to acknowledge a health problem can contribute to its spread. Pig farmers in Luzon, the biggest and most populated island of the Philippines, report pigs falling ill with loss of appetite, vomiting and sudden death, reports Ralf Rivas for Rappler. The Department of Agriculture reports that a number of government units “vigorously conduct joint monitoring of the movement of pigs, pork, and pork-related products in suspected swine farms” and are requiring pigs and pork products undergo veterinarian inspections and permits. The Department of Agriculture provided few details on affected areas or specifics on the disease or how authorities determine which pork is safe to sell. “The unnamed disease is said to not be harmful to humans, but people can become carriers of the disease and infect healthy pigs,” reports Rivas. “Rumors have spread that the unnamed disease is African swine fever, which has affected at least 25 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.” China, Mongolia, Vietnam are among the nations that have reported African swine fever outbreaks, and news reports in May described plans for the Philippines pork industry to export product to China and Japan. – YaleGlobal