ILOILO City – The case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Oton, Iloilo – the first in Western Visayas – has been confirmed.
Subsequently, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), as confirmed by provincial veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada, has started culling all the hog heads from the infected farm yesterday.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs. In its acute form the disease generally results in high mortality, making it a major crisis for the hog industry.
While it is not a danger to human health, ASF has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economy.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said some 305 hog heads from the affected farm have been disposed by burning and burying.
More backyard hog farms within the .5-kilometer radius from the infected farm will be depopulated today.
There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF.
Defensor said the province has activated its ASF provincial taskforce as well as barangay taskforces.
The barangay taskforces will lead the surveillance of piggeries in their respective areas.
The ASF virus is highly resistant in the environment; it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon. Human behaviors can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not taken.
Here, as part of the precautionary measures, rapid testing of hogs will be carried out if necessary.
Local government units (LGUs) in the province were also told to identify disposal areas within their premises.
Hogs infected with ASF develop a high temperature, then become dull and go off their food. Other symptoms can vary but will include some or all of the following: vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), reddening or darkening of the skin, particularly ears and snout; gummed up eyes, labored breathing and coughing; abortion, still births and weak litters; weakness and unwillingness to stand.
For now, Defensor said the province is waiting for official statement from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and it is ready to conduct contact tracing to determine the origin of the virus.
“We are awaiting the announcement of the Department of Agriculture kay based sa protocol, the DA will make an announcement. But in any event, kita ya naka-execute na,” said Defensor.
So far, the PVO has been conducting investigation on the affected hog farm.
Yesterday, the governor called for a meeting with the ASF provincial taskforce, all the mayors of the province and representatives from DA Region 6 to discuss the precautionary measures against the possible spread of ASF in the province.
“It doesn’t mean kon may positive diri sa Iloilo, indi na maghulag ang baboy. Indi na s’ya amo sina kay may protocol ang DA nga ginasunod,” said Defensor.
Meanwhile, the DA-6 Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC), during its emergency consultation on Friday, passed a resolution “for immediate hog containment and total banning of movement of hogs within 50-kilometer radius from the municipality of Oton; recommending for a no movement of hogs and pork products within Western Visayas; and enjoining ASF Task Force-Western Visayas to take immediate action.”
But this resolution has been recalled also yesterday.
Meanwhile, following the confirmed case of ASF in the province, nearby LGUs including Iloilo City have planned and are planning to impose border control.
The first to issue an executive order imposing border control was the town of Tigbauan, the next town to Oton.
The town banned the entry of hogs and pork products from Oton.
The province of Negros Occidental also imposed border control and banned the entry of hogs, pork products and by-products from Panay and Guimaras.
Aklan and Capiz intensified their border controls, too.
Moreover, Capiz called for a strict implementation on veterinary quarantine procedures and food safety on the movement of swine pork, pork products and by-products within the province.
In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city is also planning to do the same. He said he will issue an executive order regarding this./PN
