ASF vaccine trial to proceed – DA

MANILA, Philippines — The trial for African swine fever vaccine will proceed despite the reported ASF outbreaks in source-country Vietnam, according to an official of the Department of Agriculture.

DA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the procurement of P350 million worth of ASF vaccines will proceed despite the spread of the disease in Vietnam.

“The P350 million underwent the correct process. Of course (ASF outbreaks in Vietnam will not affect our trial),” De Mesa said.

De Mesa was reacting to reports that Vietnam culled 42,400 infected pigs this year – up by nearly five times the number in the same period last year. He said the DA continues to monitor the situation in Vietnam.

The Food and Drug and Administration has already approved the controlled vaccination of hogs. Under the FDA order, De Mesa said, the DA would undertake the procurement of the ASF vaccines.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. also earlier said the FDA would approve this month the country’s first vaccine against ASF.

Given this, De Mesa said the vaccines would probably be available by September as he noted that the “procurement process will take two months.”

BAI warns vs bird flu vaccines sold online

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is warning the public against buying avian influenza (AI) vaccines online.

Hyacinth Napiloy, BAI officer-in-charge, said in a memorandum that all bird flu vaccines must be registered and authorized by the FDA.

“The BAI cannot guarantee the quality and safety of this product. Therefore, the use of such non-conforming products may pose potential danger to the health of poultry and other bird species in the country,” Napiloy said.

She noted that the illegal sale of AI vaccines is proliferating online and that these products could potentially do more harm than good.

The memorandum said the vaccine, known as MEDIVAC AI H5N1, is neither registered nor authorized for sale or use in the Philippines.

According to the BAI, the vaccine is imported from Indonesia and is sold for P423 to P714, depending on the volume. It is also categorized as a dog and cat essential.

“The use of these (unauthorized) vaccines could be poisonous both to animals and humans,” De Mesa said at a press briefing.

In April, the BAI also warned against the unauthorized use of bird flu and ASF vaccines, noting that these were smuggled in travel bags from Vietnam and other neighboring countries. — Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas