June 14, 2023

Dumaguete City in southern Philippines begins ASF surveillance following first confirmed case

Authorities in Dumaguete City, Negros Island, southern Philippines, have started the monitoring and surveillance of the African swine fever (ASF) after the first case was reported in a barangay on the city outskirts, the city veterinarian said on June 13.

Dr. Marites Arapols told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that following the issuance of Executive Order No. 8 by Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo over the weekend, pigs and by-products are no longer allowed to leave or enter Barangay Cadawinonan where the ASF case was detected.

"So far… no other hog deaths were reported but we are closely monitoring the 'ground zero' area where the ASF-infected pig had died," Arapols said. She added that aside from the deceased pig, another one in the same pen was tested for the virus but yielded negative results.

Initially, a test-and-destroy operation was conducted during the past weekend within a 500-meter radius of ‘ground zero'. However, pigs had been tested negative for ASF, Arapols said. Therefore, there was no need for culling, but residents and barangay officials have been asked to closely monitor pigs in the area and nearby barangays like Balugo and Talay.

Arapols also urged hog raisers to undertake biosecurity measures to contain the spread of the ASF.

"The ASF virus does not manifest itself immediately and, usually, it takes about 14 days before an infected pig comes down with the symptoms," the city veterinarian said.

Arapols said that while blood samples from pigs have been extracted for laboratory examination, authorities have also been conducting random testing for faster results.

Veterinary authorities earlier said they believe the first ASF case in Negros Oriental, which was reported in Barangay Maayong Tubig in Dauin town, was due to swill-feeding of pigs that eventually succumbed to the disease.

- PNA