ASF leads to culling of 704 pigs, testing in Negros Oriental, La Union

Authorities in Negros Oriental and Balaoan town in La Union province are conducting tests on blood samples of hogs following outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF), with 704 heads of swine culled since Aug. 14.

Quezon province's seven towns have recorded cases of ASF, joining the list of affected areas; these include San Andres, Macalelon, Lopez, Mauban, Candelaria, and Tiaong as classified by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) in a report on its Facebook page.

Dr. Placeda Lemana, the provincial veterinarian of Negros Occidental, confirmed that pigs and pork products from Negros Oriental remain banned from entering Negros Occidental as a safety precaution against ASF after 41 pigs were intercepted without proper documentation on Monday, August 12 in Escalante City.

Valencia town's local government has called on its residents to purchase pork and other by-products locally to prevent further spread of ASF after containment measures were implemented following the outbreak last week.

In depopulation activities conducted on Aug. 7 and 8, 182 hogs were culled and buried in Negros Oriental, with disinfection continuing in affected premises; farmers will receive indemnification from local and national governments.

Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria said stricter measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of ASF from West Balabag, including blood sample testing within a 1,500-meter radius by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

The DA is urging for strict compliance to bio-security measures after confirming cases of ASF in Balaoan and Quezon, where an ASF Task Force has been formed with temporary animal quarantine checkpoints at entry and exit points.