Culling of 'Ebola pigs' over tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are confident that the culling of 6,000 pigs infected with the Ebola Reston virus in a hog farm in Pandi, Bulacan will be completed tomorrow.

In a report to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) director Davinio Catbagan said 2,663 growers and piglets had been slaughtered using the “captive bolt” method during the first three days of the depopulation program starting Sunday.

The BAI, together with other agencies, initially wanted to complete the task in just three days. But the stun gun used to kill the hogs malfunctioned and rains contributed to the delay.

After the depopulation, the BAI will conduct more tests in other hog farms in Bulacan and Pangasinan.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said they were closely observing the procedure. “We are doing it one step at a time, very methodical ang approach because we cannot afford to make mistakes,” he said. – Marianne Go, Dino Balabo and Ric Sapnu