‘No swine flu outbreak in PH’—Bureau of Animal Industry
THE Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) assured the public that there was no swine influenza outbreak in the country, saying the news being spread online were fake.
In a statement on Friday, BAI said there was no truth to the news about a swine flu outbreak in one of the provinces in Luzon where it was reported that an average of 40 pigs have been dying everyday and that it was unwise to buy pork in the meantime.
“The BAI strongly denies reports, saying that there is swine flu outbreak in the country. This is totally a fake news. We don’t have outbreak of swine flu,” said Arlene Vytiaco, officer-in-charge of the Animal Health and Welfare Division.
Vytiaco told The Manila Times that the staff of BAI has received text messages regarding the fake news.
Instead, BAI urged the public to continue patronizing local pork and other meat products to support the industry.
Vytiaco said a number of swine flu cases have been reported in different parts of the country but since vaccination was administered regularly, the disease was prevented from spreading.
Meanwhile, Rosendo So, Chairman of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), said in an interview on GMANews TV that the rumors raised speculations on meat importation.
“It seems like somebody behind this wants to initiate a scenario for an importation to come,” said So.
BAI said that meat that has undergone the scrutiny of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) was safe to eat. Furthermore, agencies, laboratories, and linkages with swine raisers are efficiently operating to ensure a sufficient and safe supply of pork nationwide.
The NMIS and BAI are agencies under the Department of Agriculture. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ
The post ‘No swine flu outbreak in PH’—Bureau of Animal Industry appeared first on The Manila Times Online.