The deadly African swine fever (ASF) has hit pigs in two barangays in San Carlos City, Mayor Renato Gustilo confirmed Wednesday, July 12.
There were 16 pig deaths in barangays Quezon and Rizal in San Carlos City, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported.
RT-PCR tests confirmed ASF positive cases in the two barangays and samples will be submitted to the Bureau of Animal Industry for official results, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
Gustilo said the pigs within the 500 meter radius of the ASF hit areas have been cordoned.
The pig raisers are encouraged to slaughter the healthy pigs in the area and sell the pork only to residents within the 500 meter radius, he said.
San Carlos City is the first local government unit (LGU) in the 1st District of Negros Occidental to report pig deaths from ASF.
There are now 20 out of 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental and 151 barangays with pig deaths from ASF, hog cholera and various other illnesses, the PVO reported Wednesday.
The latest pig deaths were in Barangay Sikatuna, Isabela, the PVO said.
The pig deaths in Negros Occidental were 16,774 causing P190,805,925 in losses as of Wednesday, it added.
Affected pig raisers are 3,728.*