THE committee on agriculture and food in the Davao City Council urged concerned government agencies and business sectors to take effort in preventing African Swine Flu (ASF) from entering the country, especially Davao City.

Councilor Marissa Abella, agriculture and food committee chair, said during the regular session on Tuesday, January 8, that ASF is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease that afflict domestic and wild pigs, and even spread to processed meat.

Reports of an outbreak of ASF in some parts of Europe and Asia alarmed hog raisers, which prompted Abella to call the attention of different agencies to intensify monitoring in ports around the city.

“Although ASF is not a threat to humans, it poses a great threat to the economy particularly the swine industry as it can easily be transmitted and spread,” Abella said.

“We, therefore, need to be extremely vigilant especially that Davao City has several direct flights and vessels from China and other countries which increases the risk of transmission,” she added.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has ordered the implementation of quarantine measures to prevent the entry of pork and pork-based products from China and seven other countries.