Pork from Quezon City supermarket tests positive for ASF

MANILA, Philippines — Another supermarket in Quezon City has been found selling meat products infected with African swine fever (ASF), prompting the local government to strengthen measures to stop the spread of the disease.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said meat samples submitted to the Bureau of Animal Industry tested positive for ASF.

The supermarket is located along Doña Carmen in Quezon City.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said validation is still ongoing.

“We will continue to strengthen guidelines so this will not happen again,” Dar told reporters yesterday.

Belmonte said she would seek a dialogue with the owners of supermarkets in the city and their suppliers.

“The ASF confined in pigs has reached grocery stores and that is scary because pork products are supposed to have NMIS (National Meat Inspection Service) certification,” she said.

“We ask the public not to blame anybody. The agriculture department is in charge of investigating these supermarkets. On the part of the local government, our concern is the safety of the people,” the mayor added.

Belmonte said the city veterinary office has intensified the inspection of supermarkets and grocery stores.

While ASF is not transmissible to humans, traces of the virus can still be found in slaughtered pigs and processed meat products.

“We urge the public to be careful and look for signs of ASF-tainted products,” Belmonte said.