BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental provincial government is considering several options to stop the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) after Bacolod City recorded cases of the hog disease.
According to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, the provincial government is doubling its efforts in addressing the matter with local government units (LGUs) already stepping up their monitoring.
Among the solutions being eyed by Lacson is to temporarily stop hog breeding to prevent the viral infection from further spreading.
The governor said a low hog population means lower chances for the ASF to spreading.
Negros Occidental’s P6-billion swine industry is now facing a serious threat not just from ASF but also from hog cholera.
As of May 26, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) logged 6,379 hog deaths due to hog cholera. The number represents around 5.88 percent of the province’s total hog population.
This highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild swine has also caused an estimated P75.5 million in losses, according to the PVO./PN
