Press Release
February 24, 2009

Press Statement of Senator Loren Legarda on 6,000 hogs
slaughtered due to Ebola Reston

The government should be more proactive and exhaustive in addressing the Ebola Reston Virus that has afflicted the hog industry and may affect humans. It should also extend aid to hog raisers who have incurred damage from the calamity.

Although the Ebola Reston Virus has shown it can be transmitted to humans without resulting in illness, it would be premature to conclude the health effects on all population groups, since evidence available relates only to healthy adults, and that we are not sure if the effects are the same to all other population groups such as immuno-compromised persons, persons with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women and children.

It is for these reasons that I urge the government to be more alert and proactive as there might be effects and symptoms that we are not aware of but are already occurring. The government must provide diagnostic tests, especially on the affected areas, and necessary treatment to contain the spread of the virus.

Six thousand hogs are nothing compared to the effects on the whole livestock industry, so I think the slaughter of the hogs is necessary, but the government must help those affected. While public health is the primary concern of government, it should ensure that there won't be an abuse of some sort by monitoring the market prices especially in the affected areas.

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