Hog cholera: 2,000 pigs culled in Negros

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — More than 2,000 pigs have been culled in Negros Occidental due to hog cholera.

Hog farms in 11 towns and cities in Negros Occidental were reportedly affected by hog cholera.

In San Enrique town, Mayor Jilson Tubillara said 736 pigs have died of the swine disease.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday maintained that the province remains free of Africal swine fever, noting that 18 of the 27 samples sent to the Department of Agriculture for laboratory examination were found negative for ASF.

Provincial veterinarian Placeda Lemana said ASF and hog cholera have similar symptoms.

To prevent the spread of hog cholera and protect “good standing” barangays, Lacson ordered the setting up of border control.

He issued an executive order creating a provincial incident management team to focus on swine diseases.

Hog cholera, which is also called classical swine fever, is a contagious viral disease of domestic and wild swine, according to the World Organization for Animal Health.

Infected pigs develop high fever and exhaustion.

Lacson had earlier ordered mayors in Negros Occidental to mobilize their veterinary or agriculture offices and establish quarantine checkpoints to ensure effective disease monitoring and surveillance activities.