ASF spreads in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — African swine fever (ASF) has spread in hog farms in Negros Occidental, with nine cases reported in Victorias City.

At a joint press briefing, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and veterinarian John Michael Cabuguason said two ASF cases were recorded in Barangay 5 while seven hogs brought to the Victorias Food Corp. (VFC) slaughterhouse tested positive for the virus.

Cabuguason said VFC was ordered to stop slaughtering hogs while its slaughter and storage areas had been disinfected.

Benitez said the regional disease diagnostic laboratory in Iloilo confirmed that the seven hogs found infected with ASF came from Barangay Anahaw in Hinigaran town.

Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo ordered a lockdown of Barangays Anahaw and Cabahug, where swine deaths were reported.

Arceo said blood samples were taken for ASF testing.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) had earlier confirmed that ASF cases were detected in a barangay in Pulupandan and two barangays in this city.

The first ASF cases on Negros island were detected in Dauin and Sibulan towns in Negros Oriental.

As of Wednesday, the provincial health office said hog deaths in Negros Occidental had risen to 11,056. This represent 9.77 percent of the 113,107 total hog population in the province.

Losses to the swine industry reached P125.3 million.

The provincial government is providing P4 million in cash assistance while the Bacolod city government is preparing P10 million to indemnify affected hog raisers.

Bago City has allotted P16 million for hog raisers whose pigs were hit by hog cholera.

‘Release vaccine field trial results’

Meanwhile, hog raisers group Philippine Pork Producers Federation called on the BAI yesterday to release the results of the field trial on the ASF vaccine.

“It’s a welcome development for the industry to have that ASF vaccine, but we want to see how the trial was done,” federation president Nonon Tambago said in a text message to The STAR.

BAI assistant director Arlene Vytiaco said 100 percent of the vaccinated pigs produced antibodies against ASF.

National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. president Chester Tan said pork producers cannot afford the reported P400 to P600 price of the ASF vaccine.

Farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura executive director Jayson Cainglet said a dose of the ASF vaccine can be bought for only $3 or P165 in Vietnam. – Bella Cariaso