TACLOBAN CITY – African swine fever (ASF) has spread to more areas in Eastern Visayas, affecting 30 towns and cities in the region in the past six months, the Department of Agriculture reported on Tuesday.
DA Eastern Visayas regional executive director Angel Enriquez said the magnitude of spread in some areas is alarming, but the situation in towns where ASF infestation was first reported is now under control.
As of June 21, at least 12,946 live hogs have been depopulated as a strategy to contain the disease.
“Of the 30 affected areas, five towns have not reported new cases in the past 90 days. That means interventions of DA and local government units are really working,” Enriquez said in a press briefing.
The ASF virus has been present in Abuyog, Javier, La Paz, Dulag, MacArthur, Tanauan, Palo, Pastrana, Burauen, Tacloban City, Jaro, Mayorga, Carigara, Tolosa, Tabontabon, Dagami, Sta. Fe, San Miguel, Tunga, Barugo, and Mahaplag in Leyte.
In other provinces, affected areas are Lope de Vega, Catarman, and Mondragon in Northern Samar; Silago in Southern Leyte; Catbalogan City, Sta. Rita, and Calbayog City, Samar; and Dolores and Oras in Eastern Samar.
Among the areas without new ASF infections in the past three months are Abuyog, La Paz, MacArthur, Mayorga, Tacloban City. These areas can proceed with their repopulation program for as long as their detailed plans are completed.
Abuyog town is the most affected town in the region with 37 out of 63 villages that have confirmed ASF cases.
Leyte is the first province in the Visayas which recorded confirmed ASF infection. The first case was recorded on Jan. 14 in Abuyog town.
“Our local governments have already strengthened their ASF task force. We are capacitating our responders in our communities through the formation of a village ASF watch group. The government can only do much. If the public will not cooperate, ending the ASF infection will not be possible,” Enriquez added.
Initial investigation showed the ASF virus could have been transmitted to local farms in Leyte through infected boar being used for natural mating and by hog traders who might have fed their stocks with contaminated food products.
In Samar Island, the ASF virus has spread through the transport of pork meat.
Pigs affected by ASF usually manifest high fever, distinct reddish areas on the skin of the neck, chest, and extremities, and bleeding of internal organs that could lead to death within two to 10 day
Source: Philippines News Agency
