The Department of Agriculture (DA) is exploring the possibility of producing vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to prevent and manage the disease’s incursions or spreads.
Since 2014, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recognized the Philippines as FMD-free even without a vaccination practice.
However, the agency said there is a need to prepare for contingencies as the livestock industry still bears the threat and risk of this severe, highly contagious viral disease.
The DA convened a technical working group to conduct a feasibility study of manufacturing locally produced FMD vaccines.
The DA said an unlikely outbreak “has a significant economic impact,” per Special Order No. 1083.
The country has not inoculated livestock against FMD for over a decade although neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam recently reported FMD cases.
The panel, to be chaired by Agriculture Assistant Secretary Constante Palabrica, is tasked to provide technical inputs to ascertain the viability of manufacturing FMD vaccines.
The group will review policies and prepare criteria of minimum facility capabilities, criteria of minimum personnel capacities, biological risk assessments and cost-benefit analysis.
The TWG will finalize a comprehensive report recommending, or otherwise, the viability and feasibility of manufacturing locally produced FMD vaccines.
According to the WOAH, this transboundary disease deeply affects livestock production and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products.
FMD affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.
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“The disease is estimated to circulate in 77 percent of the global livestock population, in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as in a limited area of South America,” it added. —JORDEENE B. LAGARE