Three new technologies to detect and manage African Swine Fever have been unveiled in the Philippines amid ongoing concerns about a vaccine imported from Vietnam.<\/p>\n
African Swine Fever, which causes haemorrhagic fever in pigs, has had a devastating effect on the country\u2019s swine industry, with outbreaks occurring in\u00a076 out of 82\u00a0provinces since 2019 and six provinces recording active cases last month.<\/p>\n
Vietnam is also battling a serious outbreak, with thousands of pigs infected.<\/p>\n
The Philippines\u2019 Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Filipino-owned life science company BioAssets Corporation have developed a rapid DNA extraction kit and real-time detection kit for farmers.<\/p>\n
A mobile biocontainment laboratory, developed by BioAssets Corporation, is designed to support rapid response to potential outbreaks and improve disease surveillance, enabling farmers to diagnose the disease on-site.<\/p>\n
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. said the interventions demonstrated how science, technology and innovation can offer \u201cholistic solutions to pressing animal health challenges\u201d impacting food security.<\/p>\n
However, Fermin Diaz, editor of the online magazine\u00a0Livestock and Meat Business,\u00a0told\u00a0SciDev.Net: \u201cThe way I look at it, it seems that these new tools are just palliatives \u2026 so that the DOST can say that they are addressing the matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose kits have very minimal contribution to the overall diagnostic aspect of disease management.\u201d<\/p>\n
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, with mortality rates as high as\u00a0100 per cent. It has caused huge economic losses and disruption to the pork supply chain, threatening food security across the region.<\/p>\n
If left unchecked, there is a risk that the virus could mutate, potentially making it more transmissible or virulent.<\/p>\n
The Philippine government, with the assistance of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has adopted a three-pronged strategy to combat the virus in the last year, focused on prevention, control and vaccination.<\/p>\n
Constante Palabrica, the Philippines\u2019 agriculture undersecretary for livestock, said cases were going down thanks to \u201czoning and checkpoints\u201d as part of the new programme. He noted that no microbial mutations have been identified.<\/p>\n
According to official figures, more than 495 cities and municipalities have been upgraded from \u201cred\u201d infected zones to \u201cpink\u201d, meaning they are no longer under quarantine.<\/p>\n
Vaccine controversy<\/p>\n
The Philippine government has imported large quantities of the Vietnam-made AVAC vaccine,\u00a0despite concerns over trial data, it emerged at a House of Representatives committee meeting on trade, industry and agriculture in June.<\/p>\n
The vaccine was distributed to local livestock raisers in a bid to prevent mass deaths of farmed pigs, a source of livelihood for thousands of people.<\/p>\n
But the move alarmed some who fear a repeat of the experience in Vietnam with live attenuated vaccines \u2014 a live vaccine which has been weakened \u2014 where it affected the health of pigs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nationwide implementation of Live Attenuated Vaccines in Vietnam for prophylaxis has likely influenced the viral genetic pool among the swine population,\u201d said an article published in the journal\u00a0Scientific Reports.<\/p>\n