5,000 more hogs to be vaccinated vs ASF

MANILA, Philippines — After inoculating 41 hogs in Lobo, Batangas, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is ready to vaccinate 5,000 more pigs as part of the controlled vaccination against African swine fever (ASF).

The DA said the number of depopulated pigs in Batangas has reached 7,900 since the ASF outbreaks started last month.

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the 5,000 hogs have undergone necessary procedures, including testing negative for ASF, which is among the conditions set for the vaccination program.

Aside from testing negative for ASF, the hogs must be healthy and the farm where the inoculation will be conducted must have good biosecurity.

De Mesa said the vaccines that would be used for the 5,000 pigs are part of the 10,000 doses of ASF vaccine that the government acquired through emergency procurement.

The number of barangays in Batangas with confirmed ASF cases increased to 96 from 80.

“Among the new municipalities that reported ASF cases were Alitagtag, Balayan, Mabini, Malvar, Nasugbu and San Pascual,” De Mesa said.

Latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry also showed the number of barangays in the country affected by the virus has reached 472 from 458.

De Mesa said the procurement of 600,000 doses of ASF vaccine is expected to be completed by the middle of next month.