African Swine Fever

Essay By: Kyla De La Cruz

B.S. Agriculture 2D

Almost all of the populations among nations are aware of African swine fever (ASF). But a lot of people
have in-depth knowledge about it. For instance, the majority of individuals here in the Philippines, especially
living in rural areas, don’t have the proper orientation to it. These concerns include how a farmer recognizes the
symptoms, how to prevent the aggravation of the pig disease, and the precautions and measurements to stop the
immediate spread of its virus.

The economies of regions in the Philippines- a developing country- are always at risk when outbreaks of
ASF occur. This is due to the fact that consumers and households here deal with food security, and one of the
pillars that produces a large quantity of meat is the pig industry. And, according to DAERA (2022), ASF has no
effect on people or human health. It is, however, a highly contagious viral disease that cause high mortality
rates in pigs. Besides, pigs of all ages are vulnerable. Unless it is isolated from the rest of the herd, this is why it
is critical to understand the symptoms of ASF and how to prevent it.

Furthermore, according to Boehringer Ingelheim, there are numerous ways for pigs to contact the
disease. Ticks live or dead pigs and pork products, contaminated feed, and even humans can spread ASF. In
fact, humans can carry the virus on their shoes or clothing, which means that traveling from one country with
ASF to another without proper biosecurity practices could result in a new outbreaks.