INTRODUCTION
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious and fatal swine illness that can affect both farm-
raised and feral (wild) pigs. Although ASF does not infect humans, it is easily transmitted from
one pig to another through direct contact with infected pig bodily fluids. If the food waste
supplied to pigs contains infected pork products, the practice of providing uncooked food waste
(that has not been properly heat treated) to them can result in virus transmission.
Blocking the ASF virus on numerous fronts is key to our success. Multiple mitigation techniques
are being developed, including an ASF vaccine, medications to treat sick pigs, and virus
mitigants that might be incorporated in animal feed. While the USDA is in charge of any ASF
vaccination, the FDA is in charge of evaluating any animal medicine designed to treat ASF or any
ASF virus mitigant intended for use in animal feed.
The US government, pig breeders, the animal medication and feed businesses, and academia
are all working to prevent ASF infection and spread, as well as identify therapies for any
infections that do arise. The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine is dedicated to collaborating
with sponsors to expedite the development and approval of products that will help reduce ASF
infection and dissemination. Prior to being lawfully marketed, all novel animal medications and
animal food additives must be reviewed and approved by the FDA. African Swine Fever | FDA
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a serious viral disease for which no vaccine exists. Live or dead pigs,
raw and cooked pork, vectors, and fomites are all carriers of the disease (OIE, 2019a).
While ASF is not a zoonotic disease, its impact on the lives and livelihoods of pig-keepers and
pork value chains in impacted Asian countries and the area cannot be understated (D. Smith et
al., 2019).
Pork is the Philippines' second-largest agricultural contributor to GDP and the most prolific
livestock sector in terms of volume and value produced. As of January 1st, 2019, the national
big herd numbered 12.7 million pigs, with 64 percent of these pigs living on backyard farms
(Philippine Statistics Authority, 2019).
Since the arrival of ASF in the Philippines in July 2019, the government has boosted
surveillance, imposed movement restrictions and penalties, strengthened biosecurity
measures, and implemented culling and compensation programs. schemes, including those for
small-scale farmers (Department of Agriculture Communications Group, 2019).
In the Philippines, the consequences of African swine flu are already causing farm losses. From
2019 to 2021, the Philippines lost roughly $20 million per month as the disease expanded
across the country. Pork and chicken are the most popular meats in the country, but pork is the
most popular. The average Filipino ate 14.9 kilos of pork in 2020, compared to 13.74 kilograms
of chicken. Pork is the main protein in many Filipino cuisines.
According to the University of the Philippines' Department of Economics and Management,
backyard raisers are farms with 10–20 pigs and 20–40 piglets, whereas commercial farms have
a range of 21–99 pigs. There are a lot of backyard raisers all over the country that aren't
regulated by the government. This has made zoning and other tactics to reduce African Swine
Fever in the Philippines more difficult for the government to adopt.
Cargill told the Manila Times in March 2021 that it wants to raise awareness about biosafety
measures including giving clean feed to pigs and practicing caution while handling livestock
because people are the major method the disease spreads. Since November 2020, when Cargill
Philippines launched Cargill 360 Protection to give services to farmers in need of greater ASF
protection, the company has been active in the ASF education campaign.
Last but not least, Dr. Torres wished to reaffirm that the United Nations' dialogues and "coordination of
communities and sectors" have been a valuable resource for Southeast Asian countries and others
around the world. While each country bears the burden of the responsibility for combating ASF, there is
a global response to the disease. To avoid future spread of African Swine Fever in the Philippines,
biosecurity, segregation, and compartmentalization measures are required.
Https://www.safeopedia.com
Https://borgenmagazine.com
REFERENCES;
African Swine Fever | FDA
Https://www.safeopedia.com
Https://borgenmagazine.com
