ILOILO – African Swine Fever (ASF) has now affected 16 towns in this province following the detection of the hog disease in San Dionisio town in the 5th District.
According to the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), one of four blood samples taken from two hog farms tested positive for ASF. The case was specifically in Barangay Canas, San Dionisio.
The aforementioned barangay is now a red (infected) zone, PVO added.
The first 5th District town to record ASF cases was Barotac Viejo.
PVO head, Dr. Darel Tabuada, said the number of ASF-affected towns may continue to increase. They are still waiting for the laboratory results of blood samples taken from another town in the district.
Tabuada also said the monitoring by San Dionisio Municipal Agriculture Office personnel is ongoing, especially in areas within the .5-kilometer radius of an infected area or ground zero.
There is no order yet for hog depopulation within the .5-kilometer radius in Barangay Canas, aside from those within the specific infected farm. Instead, pigs are monitored for any signs and symptoms that may develop.
Meanwhile, out of 16 towns with ASF infections, 11 were declared as red zones – Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Leganes, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, Mina, Janiuay, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, and Banate.
In a red zone, movement of live pigs, pork, pork products (fresh/frozen pork products and uncooked processed pork products, except cooked and canned processed pork products), and swine genetic materials in and out of the said municipality shall be prohibited.
The remaining five ASF-affected towns have been declared as pink zones: Zarraga, Badiangan, Barotac Viejo, Dueñas, and San Dionisio.
Tabuada reminded the public anew that the movement of pork or pork products in dark green and light green zones is prohibited.
The dark green zone includes municipalities and cities where ASF is not detected and is considered low-risk following the risk criteria.
The light green (protected) zone, meanwhile, includes municipalities or cities where ASF is not detected and are considered to be moderate risk areas following the risk criteria./PN
