ASF virus hits Imus after Dasmariñas

IMUS CITY, Cavite – The African Swine Fever (ASF) virus has infected hogs in backyard farms in this city. The Imus City Information Office confirmed this Monday as the local government started to implement the 1-7-10 protocol to prevent the virus from spreading further.

Provincial and local officials earlier called for vigilance and united action against ASF after it infected pigs in backyard farms in Dasmariñas City.

Imus City Information Officer Jay Saquilayan, citing reports from the local veterinary and health office said at least 544 hogs from the backyard farms in Barangays Malagasang II-D and I-F had already been culled last November 10 and 11.

Saquilayan said the city government under Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi and the concerned city, regional and provincial offices are taking action to contain the ASF in the area. The ASF in this city was detected in a farm maintained by one Antonio Contado in Barangay Malagasang I-F where a hog died.

Under the protocol, all the hogs within the one-kilometer radius have to be culled and buried at once to stop the spread of the hog virus.

A report said that at least 484 hogs have been culled at the farm yard of one Sonny Topacio in Barangay Malagasang II-D.

The ASF in the area was reportedly traced to have come from a nearby village in Dasmariñas City, the authorities said.

The virus infected at least three barangays in Dasmariñas City last month that resulted in the culling of more than 3,000 hogs within the one kilometerradius area.

Saquilayan said the authorities are doing everything to stop the spread of the ASF in these areas.

Maliksi and the other local officials are set to meet with city health and veterinary officials this week for updates on the ASF situation in the city.

Imus, a first class city has 97 villages and is the fourth most populous in Cavite province after Dasmariñas, Bacoor and General Trias.

A report said the ASF virus has also infected some backyard farms in Bacoor.

The African swine fever is a contagious, viral disease that only affects pigs, leading to high mortality. It does not affect people, health authorities said.

The Cavite Livestock and Poultry Association Inc. (CALIIPAI) and the Imus Animal Growers Association (IMAGA) and other hog-raising groups in Cavite said that the sale of live hogs and pork and other pork products has dropped by more than 50 percent in the province due to alarm over ASF.