ASF-positive ham seized at Kalibo Airport

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

Authorities disposed a canned ham from Shanghai, China after it tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF).

The ham was confiscated at Kalibo International Airport in Aklan, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) -Western Visayas.

DA-6 Regional Director Remelyn Recoter said the canned ham was confiscated from an airline passenger in the Kalibo Airport three weeks ago.

“It was confiscated from a tourist na airline passenger and the ham came from Shanghai, China, one of the ASF-affected countries,” she said in an interview on Monday.

According to Recoter, the province of Aklan submitted 18 samples of confiscated pork products to the Bureau of Animal Industry and only the canned ham tested positive for ASF.

“Isa out of the 18 samples nga ginpadala nila kag ginpa-analyze ang nagpositive but with the protocols, all the confiscated pork products were disposed,” she said.

While Western Visayas remains ASF-free, Recoter said the region is still at a “high-risk” due to the presence of the 24/7 roll-on/roll-off vessels in Caticlan and the international airport in Kalibo.

“Dapat tutukan gid ang Kalibo Airport because out of the 30 international flights, tunga gid halin sa ASF-affected countries,” she stressed.

Recoter also appealed to “balikbayans” who are going home this Christmas and New Year to avoid bringing pork and pork products from ASF-affected countries and from Luzon.

“Even if we are ASF-free, we would like to maintain it sa mga may himata halin sa Manila or ASF-affected countries indi sila magdala pork and pork products especially this Christmas and New Year kun pwede diri lang anay bakal,” she said.