ASF hits ninth Leyte town
The African swine fever virus was found in the blood samples from farms in the villages of Jones and Calsadahay in the fifth-class municipality of Pastrana
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas (DA-8) confirmed cases of African swine fever (ASF) in Pastrana, Leyte, bringing to nine the number of affected towns in the province.
Francis Rosaroso, chief information officer at DA-8, says the virus was found in the blood samples of swine from farms in the villages of Jones and Calsadahay in the fifth-class municipality.
Other Leyte towns with confirmed ASF cases are Abuyog, MacArthur, Javier, La Paz, Burauen, Dulag, Tanauan and Palo.
Rosaroso said DA-8 already instructed Pastrana to start the depopulation or culling of hogs within a 500-meter radius from infected farms.
Mayor Marites Cayaco-Marcos said DA regional officials will assist in assessing the extent of culling as well as other technical needs.
At least 10 hogs were identified for culling in Jones village while geotagging is being done in Calsadahay to determine how many will be depopulated.
Other Leyte towns with confirmed ASF cases are Abuyog, MacArthur, Javier, La Paz, Burauen, Dulag, Tanauan and Palo.
Marcos has ordered the stoppage of the movement of hogs as well as the entry of swine and meat products. She also ordered a 14-day “pork holiday” starting on Monday. No pork can be sold at public markets for the entire two weeks.
City and municipal local government units (LGU) are stepping up border protection measures to stop the possible entry of the ASF in their localities.
In Tacloban, the City Veterinary Office confiscated on Friday 140 kilos of pork that reportedly came from Sta. Fe town, where no ASF case has been confirmed yet.
City veterinarian Dr. Eunice Alcantara ordered the meat buried at the city slaughter house compound following the protocol for disposing of meat.
Alcantara said all meat coming into the city should have proper documents, including a certificate indicating their origin and that they are ASF-free.
Rosaroso said the DA, Bureau of Animal Industry and veterinarians from the Leyte provincial government are going around different LGU to conduct tests on hogs.
In Abuyog, culling of infected hogs were ongoing, along with intensive cleaning and disinfection of cages, tracing of new possible contacts and quarantine of possible infected hogs.
Transport ban on pigs and pork products and swine movement restrictions are in effect until further notice.