Last September, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported the first cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country. The first pigs tested with ASF came from some parts of Rizal and Bulacan, which was later declared by the Department of Health (DOH) as “cleared” from the disease. As the disease spreads to different parts of Quezon City, affecting even processed meat products made from pork, DOH advises the public of proper preparation and cooking of pork.

Should everyone consider buying pork products in your next grocery? Here are a few things to know about ASF.

ASF virus is an arthropod-borne DNA virus. 

African swine fever is the only known arboviral (arthropod-borne virus) disease that replicates in the DNA. It only affects pigs, domestic or wild, and causes high morbidity rates among the species (around 95-100%). 

ASF has been detected in different countries including Laos and Vietnam since it was detected in China in August 2018.

ASF can be caught by pigs in different ways:

• Direct or indirect contact with an infected pig
• Indirect contact with a vulnerable pig or contaminated pork products
• Insect bites, usually with mosquitoes or ticks

Different forms have different signs to look out for.

Signs and symptoms of ASF vary according to different forms. Most commonly, pigs suffering from ASF experience the following:

• High fever
• Decreased appetite and weakness
• Red/blotchy skin lesions
• Diarrhea, vomiting
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing

It is also notable that a pig which died from the disease continues to bleed when cut. 

So far, no cure was discovered for the disease. However, a recent study shows that this may soon have a vaccine, with a pig in Latvia being the key to develop it.

Humans are not susceptible to ASF.

Since this disease exclusively affects pigs, humans cannot be affected by this. This is not even a food safety concern in other countries.

However, humans can still carry the virus through their clothing and shoes. This is one of the reasons why areas not initially affected by the disease can still acquire this.

Still, Public Health officials warn the public about this. 

So why do humans still worry about the disease? Aside from the fact that this can affect their business, ASF can cause export bans on pork and processed meat products from countries affected by the disease.

Also, further research claims that with the constant mutation of diseases, ASF can affect humans in the future. 

The DOH advises that to kill possible virus from a pork product, proper food preparation is needed. Pork should be cooked thoroughly, whether deep-fried or boiled, to prevent contracting sickness from half-cooked meat.

Final thoughts

ASF might not affect a human's health, but it can affect the world food supply since almost all humans are consumers of pork. But still, everyone should practice proper food preparation. With food safety warnings or not, improper preparation can risk someone's safety. They might suffer from stomach problems, severe allergies, or even death due to food poisoning. 

Always remember to cook properly, ensure the cleanliness of preparation and dining area, and have a regular pest control if needed.