AKLAN – Kalibo mayor Juris Bautista Sucro ordered the strict enforcement of the “1-7-10 Protocol” biosecurity measure to contain the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Hogs within a one-kilometer radius from the site of infection or ground zero will be prohibited from entering or leaving the area, and depopulation at the farm affected should initially be done.
Hogs within a seven-kilometer radius will be under surveillance with restricted movements, and blood testing would be done.
For the 10-kilometer radius from ground zero, mandatory monitoring and reporting of swine disease occurrences shall be implemented.
The first ASF case in Kalibo was detected in Barangay Caano on May 19, according to the Aklan Provincial Veterinarian Office.
Some hogs in Balete, Batan, Makato, Numancia, Tangalan and New Washington towns also tested positive.
Sucro also directed the Municipal Agricultural Services Division to conduct disease investigation, field surveillance and sample collection in all farms and collectibles within the 1-kilometer quarantine zone from the affected area.
In his executive order, Sucro ordered the culling and disposal of ASF-positive swine and exposed swine in the affected sites and restricted the movement of all live pigs, pork and pork products, whether frozen, fresh, processed or cooked within a 500-meter to 1-kilometer radius.
Checkpoints have also been put up in barangays Caano, Tigayon, Mobo and the Kalibo-Numancia bridge.
Backyard raisers are discouraged from using swill or food scraps, locally known as damog and kaning-baboy.
Jonic Natividad, chief of the Department of Agriculture – Western Visayas Regulatory Division, said swine that first tested positive for ASF in Aklan in April may have acquired the hog disease from food scraps.
“In our talk with the provincial veterinarian, the possible source is through swill feeding,” said Natividad./PN
