The Negros Occidental Incident Management Team (IMT) will color code areas with hog deaths and set up quarantine zones to prevent the spread of the deadly virus that has killed 2,421 pigs in the province.
The IMT created by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday began operations at its headquarters at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City on Thursday, May 18, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
Diaz is the IMT action officer, and its incident commander is the provincial veterinarian, Dr. Placeda Lemana.
Hog cholera has been identified as the cause of the pig deaths in the province, with no positive African swine fever (ASF) case detected yet, he said.
Also called swine fever or classical swine fever, hog cholera is an often fatal viral disease of pigs characterized by high fever and exhaustion.
Diaz said areas where massive pig deaths have occurred will be identified as red zones.
Areas where ongoing infections are not severe will be tagged as yellow zones and places with no infections will be green zones, he said.
Farmers who keep their areas green through stringent biosecurity measures will be assisted with insurance and free testing of their pig stock, he said.
The IMT will be the overall body that will ensure an orderly and organized response by the provincial government and various agencies, which include the Department of Agriculture, police, army and coast guard, to the current animal biosecurity threat, Diaz added.
It will ensure coordinated surveillance to determine the degree of the infection and its causes, and oversee mapping operations, he said.
The IMT, which will set the response action plan, has 100 percent support of the mayors of Negros Occidental, Diaz said.
Diaz said a proposed ordinance is pending before the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan that sets penalties of imprisonment and fines against those who defy the ban on bringing hogs and pork products into the province from ASF hit areas.
The IMT will also take charge of identifying checkpoint areas versus the entry and movement of hogs and pork products from infected areas for a coordinated response, he said.
This will prevent the duplication of checkpoints to save on resources, Diaz said.
They will also tap K-9 dogs to sniff incoming luggage for banned pork products, Diaz added.
The provincial government has also distributed lime to areas where pig deaths have been reported to serve as disinfectants, he added.
Bacolod City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said letters have been sent to all city barangay captains to conduct and inventory of backyard hog raisers in their areas.
They have also been asked to report on the status of the pigs in their areas and if they have been vaccinated against hog cholera, he said.*