The fever threat in the Philippines brings the disease closer to home, NZ Pork general manager David Baines said.
“The outbreak, if confirmed, is a real concern for the industry and the wider agricultural sector, which employs many workers from the Philippines.
“We are potentially seeing the disease take another step closer to NZ as it continues its march through Asia,” Baines said.
The Philippines Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar on August 20 announced an incident report of an increased mortality of pigs raised by farmers in their backyards near Barangay San Isidro in Rizal.
According to Bureau of Animal Industry veterinarian Dr Joy Lagayan the usual mortality rate for pigs is between 3% and 5%. In this case the mortality rate in the area has spiked to as much as 20%.
Dar has directed the bureau to do more tests for swine fever, including sending blood samples to foreign laboratories for analysis.
Typically, testing for it can be done in a few days but official results, if positive, might take several weeks.
The bureau has made the area a quarantine zone, triggering the automatic depopulation of all pigs within 1km of the affected farms and increased disease surveillance for farms within 10km.
About 8.1 million backyard pigs are estimated to be kept in the Philippines.
Baines said there’s serious concern farm workers from NZ could be into contact with the disease while visiting the Philippines and bring it back to this country because it’s exceptionally hardy and can be easily picked up and carried on clothing, footwear and equipment.
Baines urges all farmers to review their biosecurity protocols and in particular look at arrangements for no-contact time and staff stand-down periods after overseas travel.
“Experienced workers from the Philippines play a large and very positive role in NZ’s agricultural sector and work right across the country so we’re asking farmers and their staff to take a close look at the risks.
“We are asking everyone in the community to be vigilant, observe biosecurity protocols and report any suspected signs immediately.”
That can be done by phoning MPI on 0800 80 99 66.
