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DA to conduct joint surveillance of pig deaths in Bacolod, Negros

All the pig blood samples sent by Negros Occidental have tested negative for African Swine Fever (ASF) so far but more tests will be conducted, Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Jose Albert Barrogo said Wednesday, May 17.

The DA is arranging with Bacolod City and other local government units for the conduct of joint surveillance operations to gather more blood samples from pigs for testing, he said.

“Right now we are aiming to focus on Bacolod, and have sent a request to Mayor Albee (Benitez) for joint surveillance operations,” he said.

Under the joint surveillance, a DA team will be sent to work with Bacolod’s accredited barangay bio security officers in the gathering of blood samples, Barrogo said.

Barrogo said he is also sending letters to the mayors of Bago City, EB Magalona and Cadiz City for the conduct of similar joint surveillance operations.

Negros Occidental has so far recorded 2,421 pig deaths from hog cholera.

Bago City has had the most number of pig deaths at 755, followed by San Enrique with 726, Valladolid – 373, La Carlota City – 169, Pulupandan – 143, Pontevedra – 113, EB Magalona – 105, Manapla – 35 and Hinigaran 2, a report from the Provincial Veterinary Office said Tuesday.

Barrogo said the 27 blood samples sent by Negros Occidental from San Enrique all tested negative for ASF.

Mayor Nicholas Yulo said Bago City has the most reported pig deaths because it is diligent in its reporting and has the biggest hog population in Negros Occidental.

Barangay Sagasa has had the most pig deaths in Bago City, he said.

They do not allow pigs from barangays where there have been hog cholera deaths to be sold outside their areas, Yulo said.

Hog cholera and ASF have similar symptoms, he pointed out.

However, ASF is known to kill every hog in an area and usually hits adult pigs, which has not been the case in Bago, Yulo said.

Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez also called for stepped up testing to determine the cause of death of 100 pigs in Victorias City since March.*

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