African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in hogs from three local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental prompting authorities to intensify containment efforts to prevent its spread.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Melody Vilan said Tuesday, July 14, that laboratory tests confirmed ASF cases in the municipalities of La Libertad and Amlan, as well as Tanjay City.
“We are implementing containment measures in the affected areas to prevent further hog deaths caused by the virus,” Vilan said in an interview.
La Libertad was the first municipality to report unusual hog deaths. In response, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), in coordination with the LGU, Municipal Agriculture Office, Provincial ASF Task Force, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Department of Agriculture–Negros Island Region, conducted monitoring and surveillance activities last week.
During the activity, a total of 66 blood samples were collected from various barangays in La Libertad and submitted to the BAI for laboratory testing.
Subsequent testing also confirmed ASF-positive samples from Barangay San Miguel in Tanjay City and three barangays in Amlan.
Meanwhile, blood samples collected in Dauin town tested negative for the disease.
Vilan said the Tanjay City government has begun implementing containment measures while awaiting laboratory results for blood samples collected in Barangays Sta. Cruz Nuevo and Polo.
The PVO has also scheduled the depopulation of 25 ASF-positive pigs, along with other hogs housed in the same pens that were exposed to the infected animals in Amlan town.
These ASF cases were recorded in Barangays Bio-os (2 cases), Silab (3 cases) and Jantianon (14 cases), affecting 10 households. The culling of infected and exposed hogs was scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the PVO has requested the Municipal Agriculture Office in San Jose to collect 49 blood samples for testing.
Sibulan has yet to submit its profiling report on pigs under monitoring and surveillance, while Siaton is scheduled for blood sampling this week following reports of hog deaths.
Vilan reminded hog raisers that local government units with confirmed ASF cases are prohibited from transporting or selling pigs outside their respective areas as part of disease control measures. *PNA
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