DAVAO CItY (June 30) — — Various local government units have formed a Joint Task Force Karne in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to monitor sales and distribution of canned meat sourced from countries affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF).
This, after the Department of Agriculture ordered the recall of all canned good coming form countries infected with ASF.
In Cebu City, infected meat was discovered when the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and the Veterinary Office inspected the meat distributed in the market.
The infected meat was mixed imported “good” meat.
Last week, the task force ‘Karne’ in Zambonga City have seized 298 cans of pork meat.
In a report published by PNA, Zamboanga City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola, said Saturday that the canned pork meat, all imported from China, were seized on from three establishments.
On March 25, 2019, the ASF viral gene was detected in confiscated canned goods brought from overseas (Hongkong) by a returning resident at the Clark International Airport in Clarkfield, Pampanga.
Arriola said imported canned goods, valued at PHP25,915.20, were inventoried, sealed and placed under FDA custody.
The seizure is a warning for the industry and an acknowledgment of the catastrophic threat on our doorsteps.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued bans against countries that have reported cases of ASF. These are Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa, Zambia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Romania, China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and North Korea.
The World Organization for Animal Health said the AFS is a highly contagious hemorrhagic disease of pigs, warthogs, European wild boar, and American wild pigs.
The virus is transmitted by direct contact, ingestion of garbage, swill feeds containing unprocessed infected pig meat or pig meat products, ticks and biting flies, and contaminated premises, vehicles, equipment and clothing. NewsLine with PNA report
