![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Piggery.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Department of Agriculture \u2013 Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) constantly reminds the general public to report any unusual pig mortalities to your farm veterinarians or to the nearest government veterinary\/agricultural office, and to consult a physician when experiencing flu-like symptoms.<\/p>\n
Reports on flu-like symptoms have been increasing this rainy season and this could affect both agricultural workers and our swine production.<\/p>\n
News regarding the new type of swine flu has been circulating online causing worries to both farm workers and the general public.<\/p>\n
As published in several online journals, researchers in China have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic. According to the study, the virus named G4 descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009. The study that was conducted in China from 2011 to 2018 revealed that 10.4% of swine workers had already been exposed and as many as 4.4% of the general population also appeared to have antibodies.<\/p>\n
This shows that the virus can be passed from animals to humans, but human to human transmission has not been established yet.<\/p>\n
The head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge University in England said: \u201cWe are constantly at risk of a new emergence of zoonotic pathogens and that farmed animals, with which humans have greater contact than with wildlife, may act as the source for important pandemic viruses.\u201d<\/p>\n
The DA-BAI assures the public that the Philippines does not import swine or pork products from China.<\/p>\n
The bureau strongly recommends that swine farm owners consult their licensed veterinarians to review farm biosafety and biosecurity programs.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the DA-BAI will host this week a technical meeting with the Philippine Inter-agency Committee on Zoonoses to prepare the framework for managing emerging diseases that affect animals and humans.<\/p>\n
Thereafter, the National Task Force on Animal-Borne Diseases (NTFAD), chaired by the DA, led by Secretary William Dar, will report appropriate recommendations to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.<\/p>\n
The public, especially those engaged in animal farming, is encouraged to report to the Department of Health any unusual sickness among farm workers.<\/p>\n
The DA-BAI urges the public to verify sources of information with either DA-BAI or DOH for proper guidance. ### Author: DA Communications Group | 1 July 2020<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n
For reports or further inquiries on swine disease incidence, kindly call or text:
\nDA\u2013BAI Hotline at 0995-1329339 or 0920-8543119.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"