Not all pig deaths in Negros Occidental have been due to hog cholera, Dr. Ryan Janoya, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office, said Friday, May 19.
Some of the 2,421 pig deaths in the province have also been due to pneumonia, heat strokes and other, he said.
Janoya said the pig death toll has increased, mostly in the 4th District of Negros Occidental, but they were still consolidating the numbers.
Their disease surveillance operations are ongoing to determine causes of death, he added.
He also said only the Department of Agriculture or the Provincial Veterinarian can declare an outbreak in an area where there are high numbers of pig deaths.
An outbreak would allow the local governments affected to use their calamity funds to assist affected growers, he said.
Random blood samples of pigs are currently being collected in affected areas for testing, he added.*