‘Most new ASF cases logged in Visayas’

MANILA, Philippines — A majority of new cases of African swine fever (ASF) are confined in the Visayas, particularly in the province of Aklan and Negros Island, according to an officer of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

BAI-ASF prevention and control program cluster coordinator Janice Garcia blamed the spread of ASF in the Visayas on the alleged failure of affected hog raisers to immediately report the outbreaks.

“There are some areas that do not report outbreaks, causing the disease to easily spread beyond the border, as provinces are interconnected or part of an island,” Garcia said.

She said the BAI has sent a team to assist local government units (LGUs) severely affected by the disease, particularly in Aklan, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

“We can no longer prevent the spread of the disease as the Visayas is composed of islands. It is not only composed of one province, but different provinces within the island. The virus becomes porous. It is quickly transferred from one locality to another if LGUs fail to detect it,” she said.

Latest bulletin issued by the BAI as of the first day of this month showed ASF outbreaks in eight municipalities in Aklan as well as two towns each in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

“We are conducting surveillance to determine the areas where the virus has spread to be able to contain it immediately,” Garcia said.

She gave assurance that all actions of the BAI pertaining to hog diseases are coordinated with concerned LGUs.

Garcia said there are LGUs that do not follow the protocol being implemented by the Department of Agriculture in containing ASF.

“That could be one of the reasons why ASF continued to spread, aside from the mobility of the people,” she said.

Aside from Aklan and Negros Island, ASF outbreaks were also detected in Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Guimaras, Leyte, Northern Samar and Southern Leyte.

Provinces that remain ASF-free are Antique, Biliran, Bohol and Siquijor.

Eastern Samar has recovered from ASF.