ILOILO – African Swine Fever (ASF) red zones in this province climbed to 17 towns.
The latest addition was 5th District’s Concepcion town; ASF cases were detected in barangays Tamis-ac and Aglosong.
“Nagdugang ang red zones naton but I think we have projected this trend sang nagliligad pa,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The other red zones were Oton, San Miguel, Leganes, New Lucena, Alimodian, Santa Barbara, Mina, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Banate, Janiuay, Barotac Viejo, Dingle, Batad, San Dionisio, and Zarraga.
In a red zone, the 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 17 municipalities is prohibited.
Because of the continued spread of ASF, Defensor said he is crafting an executive order (EO) for adjusted measures on two fronts – ASF prevention and containment, and supply.
“Ang direction naton sa supply, i-replenish ang nagakadula nga baboy sa inventory,” he said.
Defensor is looking at the feasibility of raising hogs in dark green (free) zones in the province.
Dark green zones are areas where ASF is not detected and thus considered low risk.
According to the Provincial Veterinary Office, a total of 96,805 hog heads were lost to ASF so far. These either died with suspected ASF, sold, slaughtered, or depopulated.
As of yesterday, 22 towns recorded ASF infections. Aside from the 17 red zones, five towns were classified as pink zones – Dueñas, Pototan, Badiangan, Estancia, and San Enrique./PN
