Philippine pigs declared free from foot and mouth disease
PHILIPPINES - After 12 years, Batangas hogs have been declared free of foot and mouth disease (FMD), said a report made by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)-created National Foot and Mouth Disease Task Force during an agricultural summit here on Wednesday.
12 December 2006
2 minute read
The province, which supplies 50 to 60 percent of Metro Manila’s pork, counted 190 FMD cases in a reported outbreak from 1995-2005, that affected 25 towns and the cities of Batangas, Lipa and Tanauan.
The BAI declaration came after the agency found out that no single FMD case has occurred in the province since January last year.
BAI assistant director Dr. Vic Atienza said their move is a way of “removing the trade barrier or economic disease in the country’s hog exports.”
At the height of the outbreak, provincial veterinarian Dr. Rodrigo Bautista said Batangas hog traders were unable to export their pigs to Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Source: Inq7
