Phl detects South African COVID-19 variant with 6 new cases
The South African variant of Covid-19 has reached the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Tuesday, as the country detected six cases of the virus mutation. The South African variant, dubbed as B1351, was found in the eighth batch of the 350 samples that were studied by the Philippine Genome Center, the department said […] The post Phl detects South African COVID-19 variant with 6 new cases appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ASF, hog cholera in Negros Occidental now ‘under control’
Cases of hog cholera and African swine fever in Negros Occidental are now under control, the provincial veterinary office declared yesterday......»»
64 provinces logged ASF cases – DA
At least 64 of the country’s 83 provinces have recorded cases of African swine fever as the virus continues to batter the hog industry, latest data from the Department of Agriculture showed yesterday......»»
EDITORIAL - As relentless as COVID
Like COVID-19, African swine fever has been unstoppable. Latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that only 11 of the 82 provinces in the country can be classified as “dark green” or with zero cases of ASF. The government will have to ensure that the problem does not lead to a shortage of pork, especially during the Christmas holidays......»»
ASF state of calamity in 2 Oriental Mindoro towns
Two towns in Oriental Mindoro have been placed under a state of calamity after reporting their first cases of African swine fever......»»
ASF hits 11 Isabela towns
Eleven towns in Isabela have recorded cases of African swine fever, the Department of Agriculture-Cagayan Valley office reported yesterday......»»
Negros Occidental ASF cases contained
Citing zero hog deaths in the past several weeks, the provincial veterinary office said African swine fever in Negros Occidental has been contained......»»
Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources
The hospital in Amizmiz caring for Moroccans injured in the earthquake is now a tent pitched on asphalt under a blazing sun, and it has only around a dozen beds. When one bed becomes free, it is immediately filled again as the flow of victims from the disaster keeps on coming from villages at the foot of the Atlas mountains. Three days after Friday night's quake, the strongest ever to hit the North African country, relief workers are battling to cope in the aftermath. Patients are now being cared for under the large grey tent because of fears that the hospital building itself may be vulnerable to aftershocks. An ambulance brings the latest victim, 81-year-old Lhoucein Barouj whose leg is fractured. The old man has a haggard look, his mouth open. Relatives said he was seen by a traditional osteopath, but this will be the first hospital treatment he has received in three days. He has not had any pain relief either. "We had to carry him out of the house ourselves in a blanket and carry him for kilometers (miles)," said his daughter Habiba. Then "we waited in a field" for helpers, who came eventually to their village, Ait Mbarek. As in other mountainside villages hit by the 6.8-magnitude quake, landslides have blocked access, and a shutdown in communications has also delayed treatment for many of those affected. Basic care The quake struck southwest of the tourist center of Marrakesh, killing more than 2,800 people and injuring a similar number, according to the latest official figures. Most of the victims were in Al-Haouz province, where the epicenter was. On Monday, some arrivals seeking medical help looked exhausted and disoriented, among them a little girl in a Bugs Bunny T-shirt, her head bandaged as she lay cradled in her father's arms. The hospital at Amizmiz is local, and can handle basic medical care. But "we can't treat everything here", said ophthalmologist Doha Hamidallah. "We handle primary treatment such as sutures and fractures. But more serious cases are sent to Marrakesh University Hospital" some 50 kilometers (30 miles) away, she said. Hamidallah, who is in her 30s, arrived from Casablanca on Sunday to help along with "dozens of other doctors of all kinds from all over the kingdom". They take it in turns to triage patients. Tired and overwhelmed nurses deal with the flow of new patients arriving in private, public or military ambulances amid the clatter of helicopters above. Others distribute medicine to those who need it, mostly people with diabetes. "We also have to treat patients who were not injured directly by the quake, but who've been unable to get their medicine," said Christophe, a carer with the Moroccan Red Crescent. The first hours after the quake were difficult in the small hospital. "In terms of coordination, we could only go with the flow," said Dr Hamidallah. Mobile teams A voice is raised behind her, adding to the hubbub. "We need someone local who knows the area. Anybody?" A team is being formed at short notice to head out to houses in Anougal which have been cut off. "We send out mobile teams with doctors to the isolated villages," explained Christophe. Soldiers have also set up a field hospital nearby, and some 35 kilometres further east the authorities are putting up a temporary clinic with prefabricated buildings. This is at the entrance to Ouirgane, parts of which have been badly affected. Another military hospital was deployed on Monday morning in Asni village. More than 300 patients have already been admitted, military doctor Colonel Youssef Qamouss told AFP. Organising care has been complicated, but vital to manage stocks of the medical equipment available. John Johnson of the French group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), awaiting a green light from the authorities to help, said the Moroccans are coping well. "They have everything they need for primary care, but some things are lacking for trauma patients" such as anti-tetanus shots and painkillers, he said. There will also be a need for mental care in the days and months to come, he added. A few streets away, life has come to a standstill. One man stands with his arms crossed, staring at what used to be his home. The post Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Southern Leyte swine fever infection confirmed
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas has confirmed the viral spread of African Swine Fever in Southern Leyte after laboratory tests found blood samples randomly taken from hogs in Padre Burgos town positive for the infection. The DA regional field office said reports of unusual deaths of hogs exhibiting ASF-like symptoms started the last week of June, prompting the Municipal Agriculture Office of Padre Burgos and Southern Leyte Provincial Veterinary Office to investigate. The DA regional office said the new ASF infection is an isolated case, as the overall trend of ASF cases in the region shows the infection is on the decline. The DA regional office is continuing to investigate the case to determine the extent of the viral spread, although initial information shows the infection seems limited to Barangay Tangkaan of the said municipality. “Based on the initial investigation, it is believed that possible transmission of the virus resulted from either the transport of infected live hogs from neighboring municipalities that still have active cases of ASF, swill feeding, and poor biosecurity,” the DA regional office said in a statement. The DA assured the public that a technical team has been deployed upon the confirmation of the cases, and continues to conduct proper preventive measures against the spread of the virus. The agency said it is closely monitoring the area and its neighboring communities for possible transmission. The DA advised the public not to be alarmed and to help stop the spread of the disease by observing the protocols so that the farmers and hog raisers will be able to continue with their livelihood. ASF is a highly contagious and fatal disease that affects pigs. There is no known cure for ASF, and the only way to prevent it is to implement strict biosecurity measures. The DA has urged the public to report any unusual deaths of hogs to the MAO or PVO. The post Southern Leyte swine fever infection confirmed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bontoc town bans pigs, pork products entry
BAGUIO CITY — The local government of Bontoc town in Mountain Province announced that it is temporarily banning the entry of hogs and pork products from the lowland municipalities amid reported cases of the African swine fever in other areas, particular in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. In a public advisory, Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong Jr. warned residents of the town to be aware of ASF cases logged in backyard farms of Cervantes and is said to be fast spreading in nearby areas. “To prevent further spread of this disease and to help protect the livelihood of our swine raisers against the re-infection of ASF in our municipality, the entry of live swine/pigs, pork, locally processed pork products and by-products from the said area is hereby temporarily suspended,” Tudlong said. To recall, the hog disease was earlier detected in a barangay in Cervantes last July this year, which prompted other towns of Ilocos Sur to safeguard their borders to ensure that no pigs or pork products can enter their areas of responsibility. On 24 July 2023, the provincial government of Benguet issued a temporary ban of entries of hogs and swine products from Cervantes. In the first week of August, Abra Province and Bauko, Mountain Province did the same. Checkpoints were setup in the boundaries of Ilocos Sur and nearby provinces. On 12 August, three hog traders were intercepted transporting 11 pigs from Cervantes. The post Bontoc town bans pigs, pork products entry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mt. Province capital bans live pigs, pork from Ilocos Sur town due to ASF
The town of Bontoc in Mountain Province has temporarily banned hogs and pork products coming from lowland municipalities — particularly Cervantes, Ilocos Sur — amid a rise in cases of African Swine Fever (ASF)......»»
Dinagat eyes state of calamity amid ASF rise
BUTUAN CITY — The local government of Libjo in Dinagat Islands is recommended to be placed under a state of calamity as a consequence of the continued increase of African swine fever cases. The recommendation was pushed by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council led by Libjo Mayor Melody Llamera Compasivo to the Sangguniang Bayan a day earlier. “The people in the municipality are alarmed by the rising cases of ASF. A solution to deter the further spread of the ASF is necessary,” said the MDRRMC’s statement. The state of calamity proposal was approved by both the MDRRMC members and the 16 barangay chairpersons of the town. “Based on the data provided by the Municipal Agriculture Office, six barangays in the town are already affected by the ASF,” the statement said. As of 7 August, some 163 heads of hogs were already culled in the affected barangays as a measure to stop the spread of the disease to other villages. The MDRRMC has suggested the installation of footbath checkpoints at the entry points of barangays that have not yet been impacted by ASF. Also, the council proposed that the sale of live hogs and pork by-products should only be permitted in barangays that have not yet been impacted by the disease. The Libjo SB is expected to make the declaration during its regular session this week. In other developments, the ASF has also invaded the Antique Swine Production and Artificial Insemination Center in Sibalom town. Public Health Division of the Provincial Veterinarian chief Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil explained that the ASPAIC is the source of the piglets being dispersed by the provincial government for the sugar migrant workers and other Antiqueños requesting livelihood projects. ASPAIC in Barangay Pangpang used to have 62 hogs but one boar died on 26 July, while 61 others, including eight sows, eight gilts, two boars, 19 weanling pigs and 24 piglets, were depopulated on 2 August. Ardamil said he immediately did a necropsy and submitted a blood sample for testing to the Department of Agriculture Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory after the incident on 26 July. The post Dinagat eyes state of calamity amid ASF rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cebu Bans Pork Products from Bohol for 60 days
Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia has issued a 60-day temporary ban on the entry of pork and pork products from Bohol Province following recent confirmed cases of African Swine Fever (ASF). Although the Bureau of Animal Industry has also tagged Cebu as having confirmed ASF cases, the Cebu Provincial Government contested the findings saying these were […].....»»
Trump expects arrest, more indictments
WASHINGTON (AFP) — As special counsel Jack Smith winds down his high-stakes investigation of Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, the former US president faces a slew of potential charges. The 77-year-old Trump said Tuesday he had received a letter from Smith confirming he was a target of the probe and added that he expected to be arrested and indicted soon. The special counsel, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, declined to comment, but US media reports said the letter cited three federal criminal statutes: conspiracy to defraud the United States; obstruction of an official proceeding, and deprivation of rights. Trump has already been indicted and pleaded not guilty in two other criminal cases — for mishandling top secret government documents after leaving the White House and for allegedly paying 2016 election-eve hush money to a porn star. Here is a look at the charges Trump — the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — may face in connection with efforts to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden and the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol by his supporters: The conspiracy statute makes it a crime if “two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States.” Daniel Richman, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches at Columbia University, said the statute is “very broad” and can be applied in a number of ways to Trump’s conduct before and after the election, which he baselessly claimed was “stolen.” “I’m assuming that a fraudulent effort to mislead Congress and to delay or prevent the certification of the election would be very plausible,” Richman told AFP. It could be applied to Trump’s attempts to pressure Mike Pence into not certifying Biden’s election victory at the January 6 joint session of Congress — which the then-vice president ultimately refused to do. It could also be used to prosecute Trump for another failed bid to stay in power — the submission of false slates of electors in seven states which Biden won. Michigan charged 16 “false electors” this week with conspiracy, forgery and fraud for their role in the scheme, which was guided by two attorneys close to Trump, Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman. Trump also called the secretary of state in Georgia and urged him to “find” enough votes to reverse Biden’s victory in the southern state, according to a recording of the phone call. Giuliani and Eastman, along with other Trump associates, are believed to be a focus of Smith’s investigation and there would need to be other defendants in addition to Trump for prosecutors to bring a conspiracy charge. Conspiracy to defraud the government is punishable by up to five years in prison. The charge of corruptly obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding — the January 6 joint session of Congress — has been brought against more than 300 Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol that day. When it comes to Trump, “there could be multiple obstruction counts, there could be a multiple-prong obstruction conspiracy with different aspects to it,” Richman said. “One basis for an obstruction charge might be dealings that Trump and those around him had with witnesses in the case, those testifying before congressional committees, or doing other things to cover their tracks after January 6,” he said. Trump did not personally go to Congress on 6 January, but before his supporters stormed the Capitol he delivered a fiery speech nearby repeating his election-fraud falsehoods and urging the crowd to “fight like hell.” Obstruction of an official proceeding carries a maximum prison term of three years. Deprivation of rights This statute stems from the post-Civil War era in US history when it was used to prosecute attempts to prevent formerly enslaved African Americans from exercising their voting rights. It makes it a crime “for a person acting under color of law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” That includes the right to vote and have it counted. “In more recent times, the statute has been used against election fraud or election misconduct,” Richman said. “What’s important about this charge, unlike the others, is it really puts front and center that the victims are not just government actors,” the former prosecutor said, but ordinary Americans who risked being deprived of their votes. Deprivation of rights is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The post Trump expects arrest, more indictments appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
More ASF cases detected in Bataan
More cases of African swine fever have been reported in Bataan......»»
Raison d’être
Legal eagles are betting that the International Criminal Court will rule today to continue its investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings being pinned on the Duterte administration at the height of its campaign against illegal drugs from 2016 to 2019. That’s to be expected because scuttling the probe would run against the raison d’être, or reason for being, of the ICC. The ICC, of course, has to justify the hundreds of millions of dollars it wastes each year on the bloated paychecks of its judges and prosecutorial staff, who are known to travel like royalty, pretending to be doing something. While the ICC claims to be a bastion of justice, the reality is that its insistence on investigating and bagging former President Rodrigo Duterte, including for his actions as Davao City mayor from 2011 to 2016, feeds its arrogant posturing while blatantly encroaching on Philippine sovereignty. This concern strikes at the heart of the ICC’s legitimacy and calls into question its adherence to the principle of national self-determination. The Philippines, like any other sovereign nation, has the right to manage its internal affairs and address alleged crimes within its own legal framework. Furthermore, the ICC has demonstrated abject bias not only against African countries but also against developing nations like the Philippines. The ICC is nothing more than a schoolyard bully, running roughshod over those it thinks are weak. In fact, many of the cases investigated by the ICC have been in Africa. This perceived bias undermines the credibility of the ICC and calls into question its ability to dispense justice fairly. It is only in recent years that the ICC has ventured to add the Philippines among its targets, precisely to counter criticism of its African bias. The ICC itself needs scrutiny, particularly its judges and the Office of the Prosecutor. What little reputation the ICC had has been thrown out the window by the controversies surrounding its own judges’ lawsuit against the ICC over pay, bringing their complaint before the International Labor Organization. These internal conflicts raise doubts about the independence and impartiality of the institution, further eroding public trust and inviting scrutiny regarding the character of its very judges. The same holds true for its current prosecutor, Karim Khan, specifically for his past role as a defense lawyer for William Ruto, the Deputy President of Kenya, who faced charges of crimes against humanity. Khan’s successful defense of Ruto and his 180-degree turn from defender to prosecutor speaks volumes about the lengths he would go to in order to add shine to his legal star. No doubt, we must consider the implications of his previous role when evaluating his current position as ICC Prosecutor. So, are the ICC judges and its prosecutorial staff worthy of trust, worthy enough to be given the mantle of authority to pass judgment on anyone? The Philippines’ arguments against the ICC investigation into the alleged drug war killings cannot be dismissed lightly. The country has maintained that it did not ratify the Rome Statute that created the ICC, thus it never fell under the purview of the tribunal, like the United States, China and Russia. If Duterte pulled the country out of the ICC in 2018, it was only because the country was a signatory to the statute, which did not amount to anything without the required ratification. The complementarity issue is another significant concern raised by the Philippines. The country has asserted that the ICC should not investigate the alleged crimes because the Philippine government is already conducting its own investigations. The ICC, on the other hand, questions the genuineness of the Philippine government’s investigations, claiming that they are merely a cover-up to protect the perpetrators from accountability. Ultimately, the ICC’s decision on whether or not to proceed with the investigation into the alleged drug war killings in the Philippines will have far-reaching implications, more so for the ICC as it tries to stave off irrelevancy. The post Raison d’être appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palaweños warned vs online pork shopping
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The veterinary’s office of the province of Palawan has warned residents to avoid purchasing meat products online and bringing them home as pasalubong from their travels to avoid the highly contagious viral disease African swine fever. Provincial Veterinary Office officer-in-charge Dr. Darius Mangcucang said on Friday that Palawan has managed to remain ASF-free despite the presence of active cases reported by the National African Swine Fever Prevention and Control Program of the Bureau of Animal Industry in various parts of the country. He added that residents of the province can help maintain the province’s ASF-free status by not purchasing processed pork meat products sold online as there is no way of knowing if they are from red zones. “Let’s refrain from bringing pork products during our vacations as it can be a potential source of the spread of ASF. We also prohibit the collection of pork food items from hotels by those who take care of pigs because we cannot guarantee their safety,” Mangcucang said. “Similarly, let’s avoid purchasing online meat products from Manila, as we are uncertain whether they are sourced from hot meat or red zone provinces,” he added. Mangcucang said that, to date, ASF infection has been detected in 58 municipalities in 16 provinces in nine regions in the country. The post Palaweños warned vs online pork shopping appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
More ASF cases detected in Negros Occidental
More hog deaths caused by African swine fever were reported in Negros Occidental yesterday, with new ASF cases detected in Silay City......»»
‘Most new ASF cases logged in Visayas’
A majority of new cases of African swine fever are confined in the Visayas, particularly in the province of Aklan and Negros Island, according to an officer of the Bureau of Animal Industry......»»
Solon urges DoH mitigates ASF, avian virus
Senator Francis Tolentino on Saturday urged the Department of Health to assist the Bureau of Animal Industry to mitigate the outbreak of the African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza Flu in the country. In a radio interview, Tolentino asked new Health Secretary, Ted Herbosa to provide ASF and avian flu vaccines access to hog and fowl farmers, highly affected by the viruses. Tolentino lamented that the current policy only allows a limited number of doses for livestock and poultry. The senator asked the DoH to collaborate with BAI to address the limited vaccine stocks. “We have many farmers enduring the high prices of swine flu doses as pronounced by the Bureau of Animal Industry from P400 to P600. Can DoH link the farmers to the Bureau of Animal Industry so we can help them?” Tolentino asked Herbosa. In response, Herbosa said he will immediately reach out to the Department of Agriculture to sort things out. Tolentino recently filed Senate Resolution 580 which seeks to determine the appropriate government actions in preventing and controlling another possible outbreak of the avian influenza virus in the country. The national government should declare a state of national calamity amid the severe impact of ASF, he added. Reports submitted by the BAI showed that at least nine regions remained affected by avian flu as of 9 February, with more than 300,000 poultry mortalities have been recorded since the bird flu outbreak in 2022. In Negros Occidental, ASF has spread in hog farms with nine new cases reported in Victorias City, of the number, seven were brought to the Victorias Food Corp. slaughterhouse have tested positive for the virus. Earlier this month, the DA-BAI asked the Food and Drug Administration to certify a Vietnam-made African swine fever vaccine so it can immediately distribute doses nationwide. BAI assistant director Arlene Vytiaco previously said they are pushing for the avian flu vaccine after its trial has recorded positive results on pigs by producing antibodies. The vaccine was already endorsed to the FDA for the issuance of a Certificate of Product Registration. Vytico said the vaccine manufacturer is ready to supply 600,000 vaccines to the Philippines, however, it still requires a certification for commercial release of the vaccine in the country. The post Solon urges DoH mitigates ASF, avian virus appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NegOcc towns ban pig, pork products entry
BACOLOD CITY — Several local government units in Negros Occidental have prohibited the entry of pigs and pork products from other localities in the province amid confirmed cases of African swine fever in at least three areas, including this provincial capital. As of Friday, those that have enforced a ban are the cities of Himamaylan and San Carlos as well as the municipalities of La Castellana, Isabela and Moises Padilla. “There is a need to protect and preserve the swine-raising industry in the City of Himamaylan against the fatal effects of ASF and hog cholera, especially the backyard farmers,” Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. said in a directive issued on Thursday night. In La Castellana, Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan ordered a pork ban through an executive order issued on Friday. “There is a need for all live pigs, boar semen, pork and pork-processed products from any other cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental to be banned from entering the municipality since there were already detected positive cases of ASF in the neighboring towns,” Mangilimutan said. Meantime, Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla, in a memorandum dated 7 June, also prohibited the entry of live pigs, pork and pork-related products “due to the increasing number of ASF cases in the province of Negros Occidental.” To recall, San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo first issued an executive order on 31 May banning the entry of live pigs, pork products and other pork-related food items from places affected by ASF and hog cholera. Moises Padilla town also enforced a total ban on the entry of live hogs and pork meat products from other municipalities and cities after cases have been detected in Bacolod City on the last week of May. Earlier this week, Victorias City reported nine ASF-confirmed cases while one case has also been detected in Pulupandan town. In this city, four cases of ASF have already been detected in two villages. Latest report of the Provincial Veterinary Office showed that 16 LGUs in Negros Occidental have reported more than 11,000 swine deaths, mainly due to hog cholera, affecting 2,088 raisers in 125 barangays. The post NegOcc towns ban pig, pork products entry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»