STARTING next week, August 20, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) will start the vaccination of hogs as the African Swine Fever (ASF) continues to affect the livelihood of many hog raisers.
The BAI will visit the province of Batangas on Friday, where eight towns have logged ASF cases, to lay down the objectives of the vaccination program, according to GMA News report.
The vaccination is free and voluntary, the report also said.
“Ile-lay down namin ang rules of engagement…hindi pwede na ‘oh ito, bakunahan niyo.’ We have to get the plan,” said Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry Dante Palabrica.
“Ang kakausapin muna natin yung mga technical people sa Batangas. Hindi kaagad babakunahan ‘yun. Again, we have to be very careful,” he added.
The vaccine will be first used on healthy hogs. It will not be injected on breeder hogs.
The inoculated hogs will be monitored every 30 to 60 days, the report added.
“Kapag nakita namin na nag-positive…hindi na namin babakunahan dahil naunahan na po tayo ng sakit at hindi po eepekto itong gamot na ito kapag mayroon pong nasa loob na sakit ang baboy,” said Palabrica.
The DA said that a total of 600,000 vaccines against ASF will arrive in the country by September.
