October 10, 2023

First ASF cases confirmed in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

The province of Oriental Mindoro, the Philippines, has detected its first cases of African swine fever (ASF), Governor Bonz Dolor said on October 9.

In a statement, Dolor said the ASF cases came from the Danggay and Bagumbayan villages in Roxas town. He ordered sample testing for the disease in five more villages in Roxas as well as in one village in Mansalay town that reported suspected ASF cases.

Checkpoints will be put up in the borders of Roxas and Bongabong towns and in the Roxas-Mansalay boundary, he added.

The sale of pork through the Danggay or Roxas ports is prohibited starting on October 9, the governor said. The municipalities of Roxas and Mansalay have been placed under a state of calamity by the Provincial Council due to confirmed cases of ASF.

The Oriental Mindoro government is also coordinating with the Department of Agriculture for the delivery of ASF test kits, advising pig owners to immediately report to authorities any observed hog illness.

Last week, the first ASF cases were detected in Canjalon village in San Fernando, Romblon, according to provincial veterinarian Paul Medina Minano.

- ABS-CBN News