The Office of the City Veterinarian is intensifying its campaign for quality meat in the local market as it embarks on monitoring and inspection of meats amid the African swine fever (ASF).

City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola told the press briefing last Monday that a team will visit all meat stores and supermarkets, especially those selling or importing meats from swine fever-affected countries.

He said the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) had ordered a ban on meats coming from 17 affected countries to include China, Vietnam, North Korea, Hong Kong, among others.

Dr. Arriola said the ASF does not affect human beings but highly devastating and contagious hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs of all ages.

The disease is characterized by high fever, loss of apetite, hemorrhages in the skin and internal organs, and mortality can be as high as 100%.

It can be transmitted by direct contact, ingestion of garbage/swill feeds containing unprocessed infected pig meat or pig meat products, ticks and biting flies, contaminated premises, vehicles, equipment and clothing.-(Vic Larato)