abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/27/2009 1:08 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/27/09/culling-pigs-ebola-strain-will-take-week
The culling of 6,000 pigs infected with the Ebola Reston virus in Pandi, Bulacan will push through on Saturday (February 28).
Health and agriculture officials said the pigs will be electrocuted, then buried in a 30-meter pit inside the farm.
The media will not be allowed to cover the culling ordered by the government to prevent the possible spread of the disease.
The Department of Health (DOH) said this will also minimize human exposure to the sick pigs.
Health officials said the Ebola Reston virus poses no serious risks to humans.
"Ito po has not caused significant illness in humans, subalit ngayong nakita natin sa baboy, ang DOH ay tinitignan po ang maaring maging epekto sa tao. Sa ngayon, wala pa pong nagkakasakit," said Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health.
"Tayo, ang trabaho natin hindi ko iniisip na bakit sa atin ang problema, sisiguraduhin natin na lalampasan natin at susulusyunan ito," said Bulacan Governor Jon-jon Mendoza.
The DOH said six pig farm workers have tested positive for Ebola Reston, but are in good health. – report from ANC
Friday, February 27, 2009
Japan reports bird flu outbreak on quail farm
Agence France-Presse | 02/27/2009 11:28 AM
TOKYO - Bird flu has been reported on a central Japanese quail farm but no animals have died and no humans have been infected, an agriculture ministry official said Friday.
The birds were infected with the H7 strain of the virus, he said.
"The outbreak occurred at a quail farm in Aichi prefecture, but no birds have died and no humans have been infected," the official said.
In April and May last year several dead swans tested positive for the more virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu in Hokkaido, northern Japan.
TOKYO - Bird flu has been reported on a central Japanese quail farm but no animals have died and no humans have been infected, an agriculture ministry official said Friday.
The birds were infected with the H7 strain of the virus, he said.
"The outbreak occurred at a quail farm in Aichi prefecture, but no birds have died and no humans have been infected," the official said.
In April and May last year several dead swans tested positive for the more virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu in Hokkaido, northern Japan.
Philippines downplays China's ban on its pork
The Chinese ban on the import of pork from the Philippines should not cause too much concern since the exportation of pork has been suspended for some time already, said the Malacañang (Presidential Palace), and reported by the Philippine Star.
China banned the importation of pork products after pigs infected with the Ebola-reston virus were discovered in Luzon.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Anthony Golez stated in the newspaper that the Philippine government implemented a self-imposed ban on pork exports in December when the first case of the Ebola-reston found in pigs was reported.
"We acted swiftly. So even before these countries announced the ban, we already did it," Golez said.
China banned the importation of pork products after pigs infected with the Ebola-reston virus were discovered in Luzon.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Anthony Golez stated in the newspaper that the Philippine government implemented a self-imposed ban on pork exports in December when the first case of the Ebola-reston found in pigs was reported.
"We acted swiftly. So even before these countries announced the ban, we already did it," Golez said.
US maintains access to Philippine pork market
The Philippine government indicated this week that it will maintain current rules for the administration of its tariff rate quota (TRQ) for pork, preserving US access to a fast-growing market for US pork exports.
This was made public by the US' National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) at its website.
The Philippine government had threatened in recent months to severely restrict pork imports by denying to legitimate Philippine importers the licenses they need to import pork within the country’s 54,210 metric tonne pork TRQ.
In response to that threat, the NPPC filed a petition with the Office of the US Trade Representative in December 2008, requesting removal of the Philippines from the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
Memorandum
In filing the petition, NPPC noted that the Philippine action would have violated World Trade Organization rules and a 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Philippines.
GSP is a programme designed to provide developing countries such as the Philippines with preferential duty access to the US market. In 2007, the Philippines exported $1.1 billion worth of products to the USA under the GSP programme.
Delighted
"We are delighted the Philippine government has lived up to its international obligations and given Philippine importers full access to the pork TRQ," said NPPC president Bryan Black.
"In light of that, we have withdrawn our GSP petition. However, we will remain vigilant to ensure the Philippine government continues to give the US pork industry full access to its pork market."
The Philippine decision to maintain its current TRQ administration rules preserves a growing market for US pork exports. US pork sales to the Philippines in 2008 surged by 360% to 25,300 metric tonnes valued at $46 million.
This was made public by the US' National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) at its website.
The Philippine government had threatened in recent months to severely restrict pork imports by denying to legitimate Philippine importers the licenses they need to import pork within the country’s 54,210 metric tonne pork TRQ.
In response to that threat, the NPPC filed a petition with the Office of the US Trade Representative in December 2008, requesting removal of the Philippines from the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
Memorandum
In filing the petition, NPPC noted that the Philippine action would have violated World Trade Organization rules and a 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Philippines.
GSP is a programme designed to provide developing countries such as the Philippines with preferential duty access to the US market. In 2007, the Philippines exported $1.1 billion worth of products to the USA under the GSP programme.
Delighted
"We are delighted the Philippine government has lived up to its international obligations and given Philippine importers full access to the pork TRQ," said NPPC president Bryan Black.
"In light of that, we have withdrawn our GSP petition. However, we will remain vigilant to ensure the Philippine government continues to give the US pork industry full access to its pork market."
The Philippine decision to maintain its current TRQ administration rules preserves a growing market for US pork exports. US pork sales to the Philippines in 2008 surged by 360% to 25,300 metric tonnes valued at $46 million.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Phils: 3,000 kilos of 'hot meat' seized in Balintawak
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/26/2009 1:10 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/02/26/09/3000-kilos-hot-meat-seized-balintawak
Amid reports of Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) infections among pigs and pig handlers, police seized 3,000 kilos of rotten pork meat at a Quezon City Market Wednesday.
Authorities arrested four vendors who were reportedly unloading from a jeepney 3,000 kilos of rotten pork meat at the MC Market in Balintawak at about 11 p.m. Wednesday evening.
This was after Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) and the Quezon City Health Office conducted meat inspections and found several batches of meat being sold at less than their normal market price. Authorities said that the normal selling price for pork is about P150 per kilo, while "double dead meat" is sold at P90 to P100 only.
The pork flesh was also reportedly smelly, pale, and had no National Meat Inspection Service (NIMS) seal, signs that the meat was unsafe for consumption. Reports by the Quezon City Crime Investigation Detection Unit (CIDU) revealed that the vendors were carrying legitimate meat permits.
Authorities said that the meat was allegedly delivered from Bulacan, and did not pass legal inspections by the NIMS. The Health office also said that the meat could have been carved from sick or dead pigs who may have died from heat stroke.
Health officers said that eating rotten meat, popularly called "botcha", would cause numerous health hazards including diarrhea.
In light of the unabated sale of 'hot meat' on the market, meat inspector Dicoroso Domingo called for harsher penalties for those found selling rotten meat. "Sana yung Congress taasan iyong penalty," he said.
The vendors, meanwhile, reportedly told authorities that they resorted to illegal activities because their businesses were losing money. "Wala na po kasi kaming alam na alternatibong trabaho eh," a female vendor said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
The four suspects were charged for violating the Consumer Act of the Philippines and Republic Act 9296 or the Meat Inspection Code.
Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the illegal sale of unsafe products like double-dead meat has a corresponding penalty of P1,000 to P10,000 and not less than six-months but not more than five years of imprisonment. -- with a report from Doland Castro, ABS-CBN News
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/02/26/09/3000-kilos-hot-meat-seized-balintawak
Amid reports of Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) infections among pigs and pig handlers, police seized 3,000 kilos of rotten pork meat at a Quezon City Market Wednesday.
Authorities arrested four vendors who were reportedly unloading from a jeepney 3,000 kilos of rotten pork meat at the MC Market in Balintawak at about 11 p.m. Wednesday evening.
This was after Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) and the Quezon City Health Office conducted meat inspections and found several batches of meat being sold at less than their normal market price. Authorities said that the normal selling price for pork is about P150 per kilo, while "double dead meat" is sold at P90 to P100 only.
The pork flesh was also reportedly smelly, pale, and had no National Meat Inspection Service (NIMS) seal, signs that the meat was unsafe for consumption. Reports by the Quezon City Crime Investigation Detection Unit (CIDU) revealed that the vendors were carrying legitimate meat permits.
Authorities said that the meat was allegedly delivered from Bulacan, and did not pass legal inspections by the NIMS. The Health office also said that the meat could have been carved from sick or dead pigs who may have died from heat stroke.
Health officers said that eating rotten meat, popularly called "botcha", would cause numerous health hazards including diarrhea.
In light of the unabated sale of 'hot meat' on the market, meat inspector Dicoroso Domingo called for harsher penalties for those found selling rotten meat. "Sana yung Congress taasan iyong penalty," he said.
The vendors, meanwhile, reportedly told authorities that they resorted to illegal activities because their businesses were losing money. "Wala na po kasi kaming alam na alternatibong trabaho eh," a female vendor said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
The four suspects were charged for violating the Consumer Act of the Philippines and Republic Act 9296 or the Meat Inspection Code.
Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the illegal sale of unsafe products like double-dead meat has a corresponding penalty of P1,000 to P10,000 and not less than six-months but not more than five years of imprisonment. -- with a report from Doland Castro, ABS-CBN News
Phils: No salmonella outbreak in hogs in EV – DA
By RANULFO DOCDOCAN, ABS-CBN Tacloban | 02/26/2009 1:09 AM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/25/09/no-salmonella-outbreak-hogs-ev-–-da
TACLOBAN CITY -- There is no salmonella outbreak in Region 8, announced Dr. Archie Lluz who is Chief of Regional Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the region.
Lluz said that the results of the laboratory examination on specimens sent to Philippine Animal Health Center at the Bureau of Animal Industry in Manila proved to be negative of salmonella.
The results were identified as "Pasteurella hemolytica" a type of bacterial infection that reportedly causes deaths of swine and is due to bad sanitation and changes in weather conditions.
Pigs with this infection reportedly suffer form loss of appetite, dehydration, fever and diarrhea.
Lluz was referring to the specimens from Tacloban and Babatngon where cases of sick pigs were reported.
In Babatngon, there were 270 reported swine deaths due to this condition.
Swine vaccination were already conducted to avoid the spread of the diseases.
Lluz said however that there remains possibility that some of the dead hogs contracted hog cholera. He said, however that this has yet to be confirmed.
He also said, however, that hog raisers should immediately report sick pigs to local government veterinarians so that necessary measures could immediately be taken.
Never butcher hogs which are sick, Lluz also warned. He said this will only make the spread of the disease easier and wider. Also, the sick hogs must be isolated from the healthy ones, he advised.
He said hog raisiers should always see to it that the environment where the swine are should be sanitary and clean. Lluz said that those affected were those raised in backyard pens and not really those in hog farms.
The agriculture department has received reports of sick hogs and early slaughtering from Babatngon, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Burauen, Tabontabon, Lapaz, Mayorga, and Abuyog in Leyte; Sogod in Southern Leyte; Catbalogan, Calbiga, Daram, and Sta. Rita in Samar; and Lope de Vega in Northern Samar.
Agriculture officials in the region reported that hog diseases have spread to 18 towns and one city in Eastern Visayas this month and have affected thousands of backyard hog raisers in the region.
DA officials said that unrestricted slaughtering of sick animals has triggered the spread of swine diseases.
Pork vendors in Tacloban are already complaining. They said there is a marked decrease in their sales because many consumers now refrain from buying pork for fear of salmonella.
There is no salmonella outbreak yet, reiterated DA officials. They also said that this type of infection can be treated by antibiotics.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/25/09/no-salmonella-outbreak-hogs-ev-–-da
TACLOBAN CITY -- There is no salmonella outbreak in Region 8, announced Dr. Archie Lluz who is Chief of Regional Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the region.
Lluz said that the results of the laboratory examination on specimens sent to Philippine Animal Health Center at the Bureau of Animal Industry in Manila proved to be negative of salmonella.
The results were identified as "Pasteurella hemolytica" a type of bacterial infection that reportedly causes deaths of swine and is due to bad sanitation and changes in weather conditions.
Pigs with this infection reportedly suffer form loss of appetite, dehydration, fever and diarrhea.
Lluz was referring to the specimens from Tacloban and Babatngon where cases of sick pigs were reported.
In Babatngon, there were 270 reported swine deaths due to this condition.
Swine vaccination were already conducted to avoid the spread of the diseases.
Lluz said however that there remains possibility that some of the dead hogs contracted hog cholera. He said, however that this has yet to be confirmed.
He also said, however, that hog raisers should immediately report sick pigs to local government veterinarians so that necessary measures could immediately be taken.
Never butcher hogs which are sick, Lluz also warned. He said this will only make the spread of the disease easier and wider. Also, the sick hogs must be isolated from the healthy ones, he advised.
He said hog raisiers should always see to it that the environment where the swine are should be sanitary and clean. Lluz said that those affected were those raised in backyard pens and not really those in hog farms.
The agriculture department has received reports of sick hogs and early slaughtering from Babatngon, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Burauen, Tabontabon, Lapaz, Mayorga, and Abuyog in Leyte; Sogod in Southern Leyte; Catbalogan, Calbiga, Daram, and Sta. Rita in Samar; and Lope de Vega in Northern Samar.
Agriculture officials in the region reported that hog diseases have spread to 18 towns and one city in Eastern Visayas this month and have affected thousands of backyard hog raisers in the region.
DA officials said that unrestricted slaughtering of sick animals has triggered the spread of swine diseases.
Pork vendors in Tacloban are already complaining. They said there is a marked decrease in their sales because many consumers now refrain from buying pork for fear of salmonella.
There is no salmonella outbreak yet, reiterated DA officials. They also said that this type of infection can be treated by antibiotics.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Phils: 'Hot meat' seized in Pasay City
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/25/2009 12:24 PM
Amid nationwide investigations into the Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) contamination among pigs and pig handlers, authorities seized more than 200 kilograms of rotten pork meat at a local market in Pasay City Wednesday.
Local officials arrested Rafael Fruelda in Barangay 186 in Maricaban, as he was loading a bundle of alleged rotten pork meat onto a tricycle. The suspect admitted that the meat had been taken from already dead pigs. The tricycle driver, meanwhile, had reportedly escaped.
Godofredo Villafranca, a veterinarian at the Pasay City Veterinarian Office, confirmed that the meat was rancid, saying that although Fruelda had a valid meat permit, the pork had not passed through a legal slaughterhouse.
Authorities found that the meat was bloody and did not have a National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) seal, making the pork unsafe for consumption. The meat was reportedly disposed and fed to crocodiles.
Fruelda was charged with violations to the Meat Inspection Code and Consumer Act of the Philippines.
The Pasay City Veterinary Office reportedly said it is planning to appeal to government officials to impose more penalties and higher fines on those found selling rotten meat.
NMIS chief veterinarian Dr. Ana Maria Cabel had earlier issued a statement blaming low fines for the continued sale of banned ‘hot meat.’ Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the illegal sale of unsafe products like double-dead meat has a corresponding penalty of P1,000 to P10,000 and not less than six-months but not more than five years of imprisonment.
In a statement issued Monday, the Department of Health urged consumers to buy pork meat tagged with the National Meat Inspection Service Seal (NMIS). Double-dead pork, popularly called “botcha”, are usually smelly, cold, pale and cost almost half the original market price. The NMIS has reportedly tightened its control on unsafe pork sale practices and prevent the entry of double dead meat into the market. -- with a report from Dominic Almelor, ABS-CBN News
as of 02/25/2009 1:11 PM
Amid nationwide investigations into the Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) contamination among pigs and pig handlers, authorities seized more than 200 kilograms of rotten pork meat at a local market in Pasay City Wednesday.
Local officials arrested Rafael Fruelda in Barangay 186 in Maricaban, as he was loading a bundle of alleged rotten pork meat onto a tricycle. The suspect admitted that the meat had been taken from already dead pigs. The tricycle driver, meanwhile, had reportedly escaped.
Godofredo Villafranca, a veterinarian at the Pasay City Veterinarian Office, confirmed that the meat was rancid, saying that although Fruelda had a valid meat permit, the pork had not passed through a legal slaughterhouse.
Authorities found that the meat was bloody and did not have a National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) seal, making the pork unsafe for consumption. The meat was reportedly disposed and fed to crocodiles.
Fruelda was charged with violations to the Meat Inspection Code and Consumer Act of the Philippines.
The Pasay City Veterinary Office reportedly said it is planning to appeal to government officials to impose more penalties and higher fines on those found selling rotten meat.
NMIS chief veterinarian Dr. Ana Maria Cabel had earlier issued a statement blaming low fines for the continued sale of banned ‘hot meat.’ Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the illegal sale of unsafe products like double-dead meat has a corresponding penalty of P1,000 to P10,000 and not less than six-months but not more than five years of imprisonment.
In a statement issued Monday, the Department of Health urged consumers to buy pork meat tagged with the National Meat Inspection Service Seal (NMIS). Double-dead pork, popularly called “botcha”, are usually smelly, cold, pale and cost almost half the original market price. The NMIS has reportedly tightened its control on unsafe pork sale practices and prevent the entry of double dead meat into the market. -- with a report from Dominic Almelor, ABS-CBN News
as of 02/25/2009 1:11 PM
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