EXPLAINER: How do bird flu, ASF threaten livestock?

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Bird flu and African swine fever (ASF) remain major threats to the country's poultry and hog industries, posing risks to livestock production, food security and agricultural livelihoods.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to monitor the spread of the two diseases and assess their potential impact on the country's agriculture sector.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious disease that affects domestic and wild birds.

The disease is classified into two main groups based on its severity in poultry: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Bird flu primarily spreads among birds through direct contact, respiratory droplets and contaminated environments.

In the Philippines, data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that bird flu had affected 13 provinces across 10 regions as of October 16.

The DA recently banned poultry imports from Minnesota in the United States following confirmed outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in at least seven counties.

In 2016, veterinary authorities from the United States and the Philippines agreed that a statewide import ban would be imposed if three or more counties were affected by HPAI.

Meanwhile, the Philippines lifted its import ban on poultry products from Germany and Peru after the two countries were declared free of HPAI.

What is ASF?

African swine fever is also highly contagious among domestic and wild pigs, with a mortality rate that can reach 100%, according to WOAH. However, the disease poses no risk to human health.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said pork is the world's most consumed meat, making ASF a significant threat to food security.

ASF spreads through direct contact with infected animals, consumption of contaminated food waste or feed, indirect contact with contaminated objects and surfaces, and bites from infected soft ticks.

As of October 22, BAI data showed that 236 barangays in the Philippines had active ASF cases.

The DA is hopeful that two additional ASF vaccines, developed by South Korea and the United States, will secure regulatory approval in the first half of 2027.

How do outbreaks affect farmers and consumers?

Outbreaks of bird flu and African swine fever can disrupt livestock production, cause substantial financial losses for farmers and affect the supply of meat products, according to the FAO and the WOAH.

The WOAH said culling infected animals and those exposed to the diseases is a standard control measure to contain outbreaks. However, mass culling can result in significant losses for poultry and hog raisers, particularly small-scale farmers.

The FAO also noted that movement restrictions and other disease-control measures can disrupt poultry and livestock trade, affecting the transport, sale and distribution of meat products.

These disruptions could reduce the availability of poultry and pork in affected areas and potentially push up retail prices, particularly when outbreaks affect major livestock-producing regions.

The economic impact can extend beyond farmers to traders, meat processors, transport operators and other businesses dependent on the poultry and hog industries.— MCG, GMA News

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