Even as Cebu is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, there is another possible crisis in the offing: African Swine Fever (ASF).
It’s getting closer than we think; Ormoc City has just confirmed their first case of ASF. And because we cannot keep track of swine the way we can with people, we can never know how far it can spread until it is detected in pigs.
"We ask everyone for its (sic) cooperation and continued vigilance against ASF and to report any unusual pig mortalities in their area," Cebu provincial veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy was quoted as saying in a report in this newspaper.
Pigs that get ASF can develop high fever, depression, anorexia, loss of appetite, and redness in the skin on the ears, abdomen, and legs. But it gets worse, pigs can suffer vomiting and diarrhea before dying, usually within six to 13 days. Pregnant sows can also miscarry as a result of ASF, which has been found to have a mortality rate as high as 100%.
While we have nothing to worry about in terms of health because ASF cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans, pigs with ASF are considered not safe for human consumption. Because of its highly-contagious nature, there is usually no solution but to cull entire pig populations if found to be infected with ASF.
To clarify, for now, the province’s hog industry, which has been valued at P11 billion, remains free from ASF.
But then again, that can change in an instant if we are not careful.
Our economy is still suffering from the effects of COVID-19. Many of those who lost their jobs during the lockdown still haven’t found new ones. Imagine how much worse it can get if our hog industry suddenly has to deal with a crisis that has the potential to wipe it out, or at least shrink it to a portion of what it used to be.