Negros Occidental has been hit with its first confirmed African swine fever (ASF) case.
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confirmed that one blood sample from a pig in Barangay Mabini, Pulupandan, tested positive for ASF, Agriculture Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said on Wednesday, May 31.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government has not received an official copy of the report but has already implemented security measures in accordance with BAI protocols.
“We have to be very careful, let’s not rush and declare the province ASF infected because just in this (Pulupandan) case there were four samples taken, and only one came out positive,” he said.
“We will isolate that area where one pig was found ASF positive covering a 500-meter radius,” he said.
Lacson said for 15 days the area will be observed and if there is no repeat of an ASF case then they can say that it was an isolated case.
“We still have a lot of healthy pigs around, let’s not be quick in declaring ASF or the hog raisers will suffer,” he said.
“The provincial government has already been implementing protocols to address the worst case scenario,” he said
The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported 7,229 pig deaths from various ailments in Negros Occidental as of Tuesday amounting to P93,180,675 in losses.
The pig deaths in Pulupandan have been 526, the PVO said.
If an area is declared a red infected zone pork produced locally can be sold only within the affected place, Lacson said.
Lacson said he does not encourage pig repopulation for now.
Those who are into pig fattening should not wait anymore for the ideal weight, they should sell while their animals are healthy, he said.
The provincial government is distributing free range chickens as alternative livelihoods, he said.
Meanwhile, cargo vessels are still accepting Negros pigs and pork for shipment to other areas, Lacson said.*