Residents in Region 6 are urged to be vigilant against the dreaded African swine fever (ASF) virus after a first case in the Visayas was reported in Leyte, Remelyn Recoter, director of Department of Agriculture-6, said today, January 17.
She asked the residents to help protect the P20 billion hog industry of the region, which has 80 percent backyard raisers.
Recoter said that she met with the provincial veterinarians in the region and other agencies last week to intensify measures such as border checkpoints and surveillance, adding that the strategy will be presented to the Regional Advisory Committee for Animal Disease Control and Emergency.
She reiterated her call to the public to immediately report any pig fatalities in their areas so concerned agencies can act right away.
She also asked the residents to avoid online buying of pork and pork products since “we won’t know where they come from and they could originate from ASF-affected areas.”
Residents were also reminded not to feed pigs food from kitchen wastes as it could spread the ASF virus, she said.
The is a huge demand for pork in the region from Luzon, so there is a need to check the certificate of disinfection signed by an authorized veterinarian from point of origin at the ports of entries, and to disinfect the hog vans.
She also asked traders to be responsible for disinfecting hog vans as they are potential carriers.
She reiterated her call to cooperate and protect the hog industry.*