The Department of Agriculture (DA) intensified its efforts to protect the country’s hog industry from the deadly African Swine Fever by deploying today the first batch of meat sniffing dogs in the major airport of the country.
The DA also asked Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to require airlines flying to the Philippines from ASF affected and high risk countries to issue advisories to passengers against bringing meat into the country.
Forwarding and Cargo companies have also been advised not to accept cargo shipments containing meat and meat-based processed products.
The DA will also propose the acquisition of X-Ray machines to ensure thorough checking of the baggages of incoming passengers.
Quarantine efforts have been strictly employed by the BAI Quarantine Service following the rapid spread of the ASF in China and other Asian countries.
While it has not been proven to be harmful to humans, ASF could wipe out a country’s hog industry as there is no known vaccine or cure for it.
China has already culled almost 40% of its hog population as its inflation rate shot up while Vietnam has eliminated aboit 2-M of its hog population.
(Photos of K9 meat sniffers in action taken today at NAIA 2 Arrival area.)
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