DA stresses urgency of commercializing ASF vaccines

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday emphasized the need for the approval of the AVAC live vaccines for commercial distribution before the year ends, following the rising number of areas affected by the African swine fever (ASF). The DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) earlier reported that ASF-affected barangays in the country rose from 472 last Sept. 6 to 524 on Sept. 20 despite stringent biosecurity measures and the ongoing government-controlled vaccination in Lobo, Batangas. 'Kapag ganito karami iyong cases mo, maapektuhan ang local production, which patuloy pa rin nating challenge. So, kailangan na talaga nating ma-commercialize iyong bakuna (If you have this high number of cases, local production will be affected, which remains a continuous challenge. So, we really need to have the vaccines commercialized),' DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in a phone interview. 'We're hoping that within the year, before the year ends, mayroon nang (we already have a) commercial approval.' D e Mesa stressed the urgency of its immediate approval considering the 'most dreaded' season in the livestock industry on top of the ASF threat. He said the third quarter of the year, marked by monsoon rains, is historically the season for widespread diseases in livestock. He, however, said the DA will continue to implement stringent border control measures. In terms of the ASF government-controlled vaccine rollout, de Mesa said the BAI and the Food and Drug Administration had committed before the Senate to wrap up and secure results in November. To date, 524 barangays in 125 municipalities and 31 provinces were still classified as red zones. The highest number of affected barangays are in North Cotabato with 127, Quezon with 97, Batangas with 72, and La Union with 40. In Calabarzon alone, which serves as one of the major pork sources in Metro Manila, 200 barangays are considered red zones. Source: Philippines News Agency