ILOILO City – Following the resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in various parts of the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas is calling on hog raisers to promptly report any suspicious symptoms in pigs to their local Municipal Veterinary Office (MVO) or Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO).
The DA-6 advisory, posted on their Facebook page, instructs hog raisers to immediately contact the nearest MVO or MAO if they observe symptoms indicative of ASF in their swine.
These symptoms include high fever (ranging from 40.5 to 44 degrees Celsius) resulting in death within two to ten days, discoloration of the skin turning red or violet particularly at the ears, tail, feet, chest, and belly, enlarged spleen or liver (3-4 times the normal size), vomiting, fever, nasal and rectal bleeding, shrinkage in pig size, and high mortality rates often reaching 100 percent on affected farms or backyards.
To prevent the spread of ASF among pigs, the DA-6 emphasizes the importance of adhering to strict preventive measures.
These include feeding pigs appropriate food rather than leftover kitchen scraps or swill, regularly cleaning pig pens, surrounding areas, and storage facilities to avoid contamination, and avoiding the importation of processed meat products such as ham and hotdogs from other towns and countries.
Moreover, DA-6 recommends enhancing farm biosecurity measures which should include the establishment of perimeter fences, setting up footbaths and washing areas, enforcing the change of footwear and clothing before entering the farm, prohibiting swill feeding, ensuring feed bags are not allowed inside the farm, conducting regular cleaning and disinfection, and managing waste properly.
As per the August 14, 2024 memorandum from Hyacinth Napiloy, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)-DA, the current zoning status update on ASF shows that 33 local government units (LGUs) in the region are in the red zone or infected zone, 76 LGUs are in the pink or buffer zone, 15 are in the yellow or surveillance zone, seven are in the dark green or free zone, and two are in the light green or protected zone.
Here’s the breakdown of zones:
* For Aklan – Altavas, Tangalan, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, and Libacao (red or infected zone); Balete, Banga, Batan, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, New Washington, and Numancia (pink or buffer zone); and Buruanga (yellow or surveillance zone).
* For Antique – Belison and Hamtic (red zone); Tobias Fornier, Patnongon, San Jose, San Remigio, and Sibalom (pink zone); Valderrama, Bugasong, and Anini-y (yellow zone); and Sebaste, Tibiao, Barbaza, Caluya, Culasi, Libertad and Pandan (dark green zone); and Laua-an (light green or protected zone).
* For Capiz – Dumalag, Ivisan, Panay, Panit-an, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, Roxas City, Sapi-an, Sigma, and Tapaz (red zone); and Cuartero, Dao, Jamindan, Maayon, Mambusao, and Dumarao (pink zone).
* For Iloilo – Alimodian, Badiangan, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Carles, Duenas, Estancia, Maasin, Pototan, San Dionisio, and San Joaquin (red zone); San Enrique, San Miguel, San Rafael, Santa Barbara, Sara, Tigbauan, Zarraga, Ajuy, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Concepcion, Dingle, Cabatuan, Calinog, Dumangas, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, Lemery, Leon, Miag-ao, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, Passi City, and Pavia (pink zone); and Guimbal, Tubungan, Bingawan, and Igbaras (yellow zone).
* Iloilo City (pink zone)
* For Negros Occidental – Bacolod City, Escalante City, and Valladolid (red zone); Bago City, Binalbagan, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Manapla, Mosies Padilla, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulopandan, San Carlos City, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso, Victorias City, and Salvador Benedicto (pink zone); Candoni, Cauayan, Himamaylan City, Hinoba-an, Sagay City, and San Enrique (yellow zone); and Sipalay City (light green zone).
* For Guimaras – Buenavista, Jordan, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag (pink zone) and Nueva Valencia (yellow zone)/PN
