AFRICAN swine fever (ASF) is not a threat to human health, said health officials in the region on Thursday, March 9, 2023, in effort to calm public concerns following confirmed cases of ASF in Carcar City, Cebu.
Assuring the public that the ASF does not endanger human health, the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH 7) released a health advisory on Wednesday, March 8.
"The World Organization for Animal Health describes ASF as a severe and highly contagious viral disease among domestic and wild pigs only," it said in its latest advisory.
According to experts, ASF is only transmitted when pigs ingest uncooked or undercooked contaminated pork products.
In an interview, DOH 7 Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas clarified Thursday, March 9, that it is still safe to consume pork products, reiterating that there is no proof that ASF can harm humans.
“Safe ra gihapon mokaon og baboy basta lutoon ninyo og maayo ang maong pagkaon (It is still safe to eat pork as long as you cook it well),” Bernadas said.
He assured that pork and processed meat consumption remains to be safe as long as the meat is bought from reliable vendors and are cooked properly before consuming.
The Cebu City Government has banned pork products and byproducts coming from Carcar City in southern Cebu after some pigs there tested positive for the ASF virus. (KJF)