Borongan City: The Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying its surveillance efforts in Northern Samar and Eastern Samar following the confirmation of African swine fever (ASF) cases in four areas within these provinces.
According to Philippines News Agency, seven villages across Bobon, Laoang, and Palapag towns in Northern Samar, and Borongan City in Eastern Samar, have been identified as ASF red zones due to active cases detected over the past two months. These areas are part of the 27 towns and cities nationwide currently contending with confirmed ASF outbreaks, as reported by Vincie Pantonino, a senior veterinarian from the DA's regional regulatory division.
Pantonino emphasized the recurring nature of ASF in the region, highlighting that while an area may be cleared, the persistence of the disease in neighboring localities poses a significant threat to containment efforts. In response, Northern Samar's provincial government has enacted an executive order restricting the movement of live pigs and pork products in three towns to curb the disease's spread.
Meanwhile, Borongan City has implemented a 15-day pork holiday, effective from April 4 to 18, aiming to regulate the slaughter, movement, and sale of pork products. The DA has recommended several precautionary measures to prevent ASF's spread, including disinfecting vehicles and equipment used in hog transportation, conducting regular health checks on hogs, maintaining strict sanitation practices, avoiding swill feeding, and ensuring proper disposal of manure from infected animals.
Areas within a one-kilometer radius of confirmed cases are under stringent quarantine to prevent further contagion. ASF, a highly contagious and lethal viral disease affecting swine, spreads through direct contact with infected animals and non-direct means such as swill feeding, transporting, mating, and vectors like soft ticks and flies.
The first ASF case in Eastern Visayas was recorded on January 14, 2021, in Can-aporong village, Abuyog, Leyte. Although the town was declared ASF-free after ten months, the disease had already expanded to other regions, necessitating ongoing vigilance and containment strategies.
