ASF vaccine trial in PH to commence
THE field trial on the vaccine to contain the African swine fever (ASF) will be conducted in the country as its proponent requested the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) assistance in facilitating the testing.
Officials of the KPP Powers Commodities Inc. met with Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Officer in Charge Dr. Paul Limson to seek their support.
KPP is a Philippine-based company specializing in the importation and distribution of feed additives and supplements for the livestock and poultry industries. Their products include vitamins, minerals, antibiotics, acidifiers, preservatives, coccidiostats, enzymes and other nutrients for hogs and chicken.
KPP Chief Executive Officer Pinky Pe Tobiano discussed the recent partnership with the AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Co.
Tobiano said KPP has secured the exclusive distributorship of AVAC’s ASF Live Vaccine, with a government authorization for export and a duly approved certificate of product registration from Vietnam.
She solicited the DA’s assistance in facilitating the field-testing of the vaccine.
Tobiano said her company hopes for a positive outcome so it can replicate the successful result of Vietnam’s field trial.
A monthlong field trial in four farms is set to start as the first 1,000 dosages are expected to arrive next week.
Tobiano asked the Agriculture department’s help in coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration for the release of a special import permit that will allow more hogs to be tested with vaccines.
At least four regions are still affected by the ASF, down from the previous five regions stricken with the disease.
Based on the latest report of BAI, cases of ASF were recorded in nine provinces, 27 municipalities and 90 barangay (villages).
According to BAI, the ASFaffected regions include Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (Calabarzon or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), 6 (Western Visayas) and 8 (Eastern Visayas). Cases of ASF were documented in the provinces of Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Quezon, Iloilo and Northern Samar.
Outbreak of ASF were recorded in Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dingalan and Dipaculao, all from Aurora; Angat, Baliuag, Bocaue, Plaridel, San Miguel and San Ildefonso, all from Bulacan; Laur and San Jose City in Nueva Ecija; Ramos, Tarlac; San Felipe, Zambales; Muaban, Quezon; Oton, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Leganes, Alimodian, New Lucena, Mina and Iloilo City, all from Iloilo; Catarman and Victoria, Northern Samar.