African Swine Fever

Sometime in August 2019, the Department of Agriculture started to probe the reported incidents of hog deaths in piggery farms in Rizal and Bulacan. Suspecting African swine fever (ASF) as the cause, the department ordered the culling of pigs within one-kilometer radius of affected farms. Recently, authorities notified, if not castigated, a process meat company in Pampanga for selling ASF-contaminated processed pork meat product.

What is ASF?

ASF affects domestic pigs, including those that are grown in piggeries or farms for human consumption. The causative agent in ASF is a virus that can cause high mortality rates in domestic pigs secondary to hemorrhage. The virus is harbored by a soft tick, Argasidae, that attaches to the under-part body of pigs, thus making it not readily visible. The tick carrying the virus is prevalent in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. The Philippines is one of the tick-laden countries identified by the World Health Organization.

Does ASF affect humans?

No. Humans are not affected by ASF. However the consumption of contaminated pork that is not properly cooked might result to ingestion of bacteria, virus and other agents that are harmful to humans. Skillful businessmen-farmers might also resort to selling pork meat coming from pigs that previously or earlier died from ASF – “double-dead.” Ingestion of double-dead meat can similarly affect health.

If ASF does not affect humans, why is there a need for vigilance against the disease?

Two scenarios can happen once a person ingests contaminated pork or processed pork product with ASF; enough for us to think of the importance of avoidance:

1. When ingested, the virus can stay inside the human body and the human harboring the virus can act as carrier of the virus thus adding up to the further spread of the infection.

2. Viruses are known for their variability. They can mutate and transform to another form, thus it is just logical to think that in a few decades, the mutation or transformation of the virus might soon infect humans.

The medical journal Lancet even reported the further investigation of a missing link between ASF and AIDS. Therefore we should always be on the guard because virus variability can result to ASF plague in humans.

Prevention

1. Never eat “kilaw” or raw meat.

2. Buy only from highly-regarded meat shops.

3. Cook pork meat thoroughly.

4. Heat and cook processed pork meat and canned pork meat.