Phil. DA imposes temporary ban on pork from USA, Mexico

SOPHIA DEDACE, GMANews.TV
04/27/2009 | 08:24 AM
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/158688/DA-imposes-temporary-ban-on-pork-from-USA-Mexico

MANILA, Philippines - In the wake of a swine flu outbreak in Mexico, in the United States, Philippine agriculture officials have imposed a temporary ban on the entry of pork from the two countries.

Agriculture officials also encouraged local farmers Monday to include vaccination against swine flu as part of their hog immunization programs.

“Despite the fact na hindi naka-link sa swine farm ang human case outbreak sa US and Mexico nag-order si Sec. Yap temporary ban ng importation from US [Even if there is no direct link between swine farms and outbreaks of swine flu infecting humans, Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap has ordered a temporary ban on importation from the US]," Bureau of Animal Industry officer-in-charge Davinio Catbagan said in an interview on dzXL radio.

Catbagan said Yap “formalized" a ban on pork from Mexico. The Philippines does not import pork from Mexico, he pointed out.

“Just the same nag-order si Sec. Yap to formalize a ban from Mexico. Sa atin walang dapat ipangamba sa magbababoy dahil walang outbreak o incidence… ng swine influenza sa ngayon [Sec. Yap ordered us to formalize a ban on pork from Mexico. But there is nothing to fear because there is no outbreak in the Philippines as of now]," he said.

Also, he said the Bureau of Animal Industry is coordinating with the provincial and city veterinary offices to monitor the situation.

Catbagan said swine farmers’ vaccination programs presently cover hog cholera, porcine respiratory reproductive syndrome (PRRS), and Ebola Reston.

On the other hand, he said swine flu is not as devastating as hog cholera, saying the mortality rate of swine flu is between five to 10 percent. Hogs infected by the disease recover quickly, he added.

According to an Associated Press report on Monday (Sunday, US time), Mexico's health minister said the disease has killed up to 86 people and likely sickened more than 1,400 since April 13.

Seventeen states in Mexico, including Mexico City, have been affected. In the US, the areas affected are New York, California, Kansas, Texas, and Ohio.

In Canada, Nova Scotia's chief public health officer said there are four confirmed cases of swine flu in the east coast Canadian province.

Airport monitoring

Amid the swine flu scare, Philippine authorities have bolstered their efforts in monitoring the possible entry of people infected by the disease.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi said he ordered footbaths especially for passengers from Mexico and the US.

Cusi said they are also coordinating with the Department of Health and the World Health Organization on other protocols to follow.

“Binabalik natin including ang footbaths, ginagawa natin in coordination with quarantine and DOH ... Yan ang mabisang paraan. And then coordinate tayo sa WHO and through our DOH kung anong protocol pa ang dapat ipatupad aside from what we are already doing," Cusi said in a separate interview over dwIZ radio.

[We are bringing back the footbaths, and coordinating with the WHO and DOH on what else to do.]

Cusi also noted there are no direct flights from Mexico and from the US East Coast. Direct flights from the US include those from Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, he said.

Cusi also said this is aside from the MIAA’s ongoing monitoring for bird flu.

Pandemic potential

WHO Director General Margaret Chan called the outbreak a public health emergency of "pandemic potential" because the virus can pass from human to human.

The Associate Press reported that Chan held teleconferences with staff and flu experts around the world but stopped short of recommending specific measures to prevent the disease from spreading.

She also urged governments to step up their surveillance of suspicious outbreaks.

Aside from the Philippines, other countries have implemented measures to prevent the entry of people infected with swine flu.

Airports in China, Russia and Taiwan are screening travelers from Mexico and the US for possible flu symptoms. The said countries plan to put anyone with symptoms under quarantine, he AP has reported.

Italy, Poland and Venezuela advised citizens to postpone travel to affected areas of Mexico and the US.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong and South Korea have warned against travel to Mexico City and three provinces. Some countries have also increased the screening of pigs and pork imports or banned them outright despite health officials' reassurances that it was safe to eat thoroughly cooked pork. - with Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV