DA starts hog shots in Batangas

Personnel of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Central Luzon vaccinate a pig against African swine fever during the distribution of hogs to affected raisers in San Simon town, Pampanga province recently. (Photo courtesy of DA-Central Luzon)

The Department of Agriculture (DA) aims to inoculate hogs in areas with active cases of African swine fever (ASF) as it began the vaccination of pigs in Lobo town in Batangas province.

For the initial government-controlled vaccination held on Friday, doses of ASF vaccines were administered to 41 hogs from two farms in Barangay Malapad na Parang in Lobo town.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said a controlled trial of Vietnam-developed live vaccines will be conducted in Lobo, the ground zero of swine fever resurgence in the country, before moving to nearby areas.

De Mesa, also the DA’s spokesperson, said the 10,000 doses of ASF live vaccines secured from AVAC Vietnam via emergency procurement will be given to hogs “in a matter of weeks.”

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Constante Palabrica said inoculated pigs will be observed to check their conditions. The DA carried out the controlled vaccine administration to curb the spread of the animal disease five years after the country’s first ASF outbreak.

READ: DA begins controlled trial of ASF vaccines in Batangas town

Palabrica said developing hog immunity is critical to limiting the spread of the virus that has resulted in the death of millions of hogs and multibillion pesos in losses since 2019.

Some 150,000 doses, also from Vietnam, are expected to arrive in the country next week, although it has not yet been approved internationally, according to a report from Vietnam state media. —JORDEENE B. LAGARE