Metro Manila, Philippines — The controlled vaccination trial for African Swine Fever (ASF) began on Friday, Aug. 30, amid more areas with active cases, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said in a statement.
It said agriculture officials launched the program with 41 hogs from two farms in Barangay Malapad na Parang in Lobo, Batangas, using the Vietnam-made AVAC ASF Live vaccine.
The pigs of Vicente Manalo, the farm owner, tested negative for ASF — a requirement to participate in the vaccination program.
“Obserbahan muna po dahil nga ngayon pa naman nag-ano eh, pero, confident po ako kung tutuusin,” Manalo said of the ASF vaccination.
[Translation: We will observe since we only started the vaccination, but in some sense, I’m confident with it.]
Lobo town was reportedly “ground zero” for the current ASF outbreak — a disease affecting the local swine industry since 2019.
As of Aug. 21, BAI data showed 458 barangays recorded active ASF cases, or an 82% increase from 251 on Aug. 8.
READ: Over 400 barangays log active cases of ASF
The vaccine rollout is expected in red zones or areas with active ASF cases, prioritizing small-hold and backyard hog raisers. The DA said it was voluntary.
The DA made an emergency procurement of 10,000 vaccines to stem the ASF outbreak.
Dante Palabrica, agriculture assistant secretary for swine and poultry, said the DA has an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and stakeholders that the ASF vaccine should show it can fight against the virus.
“Calculated risk ang ginagawa natin para maipakita natin na kaya nitong bakuna,” Palabrica said.
[Translation: We are doing a calculated risk to show that the vaccine is effective.]
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WATCH: The Department of Agriculture (DA) starts today its controlled vaccination program for African Swine Fever (ASF) in Lobo, Batangas. The DA is using Vietnam-made AVAC ASF Live vaccine | @JeloMantaring pic.twitter.com/JgrKfikpC2
— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) August 30, 2024
