The Joint FAO/OIE/WHO Mission started working in the country to assess the animal and human health risk of the Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) last month.
The Joint FAO/OIE/WHO Mission together with local counterparts sent teams to the two quarantined farms in Bulacan and Pangasinan. The DA imposed the quarantine following the confirmation of the ERV from tissue samples recovered from sick pigs belonging to these farms.
The International and Local Experts were tasked to determine the most likely source of the ERV, describe its presence in pigs and how it spreads in the pig population, study the risks that predispose pig-to-human transmission and finally, examine potential risks related to food safety.
Such assessment also required determining current laboratory capacity to characterize the ERV in the collected pig and human samples.
Preliminary results from the joint mission were presented to the Philippine Government and discussions are ongoing on the recommendations presented.
More laboratory experiments are needed to determine exactly how the ERV affects pigs and if pig-to-pig transmission occurs.
Partial results from the pig blood samples collected by the Joint Mission from apparently healthy pigs in the two quarantined farms are now available. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) reported that these were negative for ERV Antigen.
Results of tests by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the pig tissue samples will be available. The results are needed to determine whether there is still on-going Ebola transmission in pigs in these farms. Until these results are made available, the DA and the local government will keep both farms under quarantine.
The Philippine government will continue with the voluntary export ban of pig and pig products according to Secretary Yap.
Blood samples from people that may have been exposed in these farms were tested to determine the possible risk to human health.
In the past, humans who were exposed to sick monkeys with ERV, tested positive for antibodies did not get seriously ill. Highest risk of exposure occurred with direct contact to blood and other bodily fluids.
Since the person did not get sick the chances of exposing others are nil. Investigations are currently being undertaken on how the person was exposed to ERV.
There are about 50 possibly exposed individuals in the two quarantined commercial farms in Bulacan and Pangasinan who have been examined, interviewed and tested.
Tests on these human samples are still on-going.
To date, no other positive human for ERV antibodies has been identified. Updates will be given on the results of these tests.
An ERV Management Team will be tasked by both Secretary Duque III and Secretary Yap, composed of members from both agencies to continue the investigation and provide appropriate recommendations.
Both Departments assure the public that the government is carrying out a comprehensive plan on the prevention and control measures of ERV.
Secretary Yap ordered widening the scope of testing for ERV, covering not only the swine population in the two affected farms in Luzon, but also other farms in the country where there are reports of unusual sickness and deaths among pigs.
The ERV Management Team under the DA and the DOH will closely work with all concerned agencies of government, local government units and other stakeholders primarily the hog industry to reduce and eliminate ERV.
The DA and the DOH urge local governments and the public to report any occurrence of unusual pig illness or deaths through the ERV Management Team Hotline at 02-925-999.
The RITM has started its efforts to improve its capacity and enhance its diagnostic proficiency in detecting ERV and other zoonotic pathogens with the help of the Joint Mission, CDC, and Japanese Laboratory Experts from the National Institute of Infectious Disease ( Tokyo ).
The DA also has the same plans for Philippine Animal Health Center (PAHC) Laboratories.
Pork is safe to eat as long as it is properly handled and thoroughly cooked. The public is urged to report and not consume any double dead meat.
The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) will tighten its monitoring and confiscation of double dead meat to protect the public.
The Philippine govern-ment is committed to know more about ERV and its impact to animal and human health as it continues to work with its national and international counterparts.
Regular updates regarding new develop-ments from the ongoing investigation shall be provided to the public as they unfold. /MP
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