ASF detected in Negros Oriental

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The province of Negros Oriental has logged its first African swine fever or ASF case following the detection of the virus in the municipality of Dauin, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The case brought down the number of provinces not affected by ASF to 18 from 19.

Following the detection, Dauin Mayor Galicano Truita on Saturday banned the entry and exit of swine including fresh and frozen pork products.

Truita also suspended the holding of swine-related activities in the town.

He ordered the local ASF task force to immediately cull hogs in Puroks 1 and 2 in Barangay Maayong Tubig and those within a 500-meter radius of the affected areas.

Transport of live pigs and pork-related products from Negros Oriental to its neighboring province Negros Occidental is now prohibited, according to provincial veterinarian Placeda Lemana.

Negros Occidental has banned the entry of hogs from Cebu, Panay and Guimaras, where ASF cases have been detected.

Lemana said swine mortalities in Negros Occidental have spiked to 4,308 as of May 19 due to hog cholera, pneumonia and heat stroke. She said she is not ruling out the possibility that it could be triggered by ASF since its symptoms are similar to those of hog cholera.

Lemana said this could only be confirmed by the DA’s regional animal disease diagnostics laboratory.

While swine in Bacolod and San Enrique town tested negative for ASF, Lemana said they are sending for testing more swine blood samples taken from other areas in the province affected by hog cholera.

She expressed dismay over some hog raisers who do not properly dispose of their dead swine.

Lemana said some carcasses end up in canals and rivers, which she said could further spread the disease.