ILOILO City – This southern city logged its first confirmed case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Zone 5, Barangay Tacas, Jaro district.
Citing a report from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Mayor Jerry P. Treñas confirmed that out of 17 samples collected from the area, one tested positive for ASF.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, whose mortality rate can reach 100 percent.
It is not a danger to human health but has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economy.
There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF.
Treñas assured the public that the city government through its ASF taskforce will follow the proper protocols in the disposal of hogs within 500-meter radius from the infected hog farm.
He also instructed barangay officials and residents that any dead pig should be reported right away and should not be thrown in the city’s waterways.
“We are working together with the barangay and we will continue to make sure nga ang tanan nga baboy within 500-meter radius makatay gid kag malubong para indi na maglapta diri sa syduad,”he stressed.
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 and bacon, among others. Therefore, according to experts, human behavior can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not taken.
Treñas said quarantine measures have been put in place in Zone 5, Barangay Tacas, Jaro and corresponding assistance will be extended to the affected hog farmers.
“The city will find ways and means para makahatag kita sang financial assistance sa mga tag-iya sang baboy sa ini nga area nga 500-meter radius,” said Treñas.
Meanwhile, the city mayor stressed that the city-run slaughterhouse in Barangay Tacas is regularly disinfected.
“We continue to disinfect the slaughterhouse everyday and ang tanan nga baboy nga nagasulod dira waay gadugay kay ginakatay man kag nagagwa man,” Treñas said.
He added that all public markets in the city strictly disallow hogs coming from ASF-affected areas./PN
