AKLAN – The Kalibo Municipal Agricultural Services Division has intensified its field surveillance on possible cases of African swine fever (ASF).
This week, blood samples taken from hogs in Sitio Tugbungan, Barangay Pook tested positive for the hog disease. The town’s first ASF case was detected in Barangay Caano on May 19.
There were 55 heads culled in barangays Caano and Pook to stamp out the ASF infection under “1-7-10 Protocol” biosecurity measure.
Hogs within a one-kilometer radius of the site of infection or ground zero will be prohibited from entering or leaving the area. Depopulation in the farm affected should be done.
Hogs in a seven-kilometer radius will be under surveillance with restricted movements, and blood testing will be done.
For the 10-kilometer radius from ground zero, mandatory monitoring and reporting of swine disease occurrences shall be implemented.
Regular disinfection is also conducted, according to Municipal Agriculturist Uriel Las Piñas.
Aside from clustered checkpoints, barangay captains are encouraged to establish border controls in their respective barangays to monitor the entry and exit of pork and pork-related products.
As of this writing, four barangays in Kalibo are closely monitored for possible cases of ASF. Blood samples were also submitted to the Department of Agriculture-Regional Animal Disease Diagnosis Laboratory 6 in Iloilo City for ASF testing.
Including Kalibo, seven towns in the province of Aklan have confirmed ASF cases: Balete, Batan, New Washington, Numancia, Makato, and Tangalan./PN
