Local farmers urged to be extra cautious

CEBU, Philippines —  Although there are no other new confirmed cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Cebu City, the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) is urging local farmers to apply strict measures to prevent its resurgence.

DVMF‘s Dr. John Anthony Cahig, acting head of the Animal Health Division, said there are still no confirmed ASF cases in the city as the seven hogs that died in barangay Bonbon last week are still under investigation.

DVMF already collected samples from the seven dead hogs and have sent them to the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (DA-RADDL) for a confirmatory test.

As of the moment, DVMF is also conducting a 15-day surveillance activity in the area.

Even with that, however, DVMF encourages swine raisers to continue to implement preventive measures to avoid ASF.

DVMF noticed that some swine raisers it inspected failed to strictly implement these measures such as regularly disinfecting pig pens.

“Kasagaran sa mga farmers dili strikto sa bio-security, wala man gane sila’y disinfectant,” said Dr. Roland Bryle Sabejon, DVMF meat control officer 1 thru Sugbuanon channel.

Pig pens are to be disinfected regularly with the use of glutaraldehyde and chlorine before they allow their raised swine to stay there.

Barriers around pig pens are also advised to prevent other animals such as birds and insects from becoming carriers of the ASF virus.

Farmers are also advised to wear protective clothing such as boots or suits if they directly deal with the hogs and to disinfect their equipment and vehicles used to handle hogs if these are exposed to the elements on a regular basis.

The number of people that can go near their raised hogs should also be limited and advised them and their personnel to take a bath before they enter the pens.

“Since viral infection na, atong kailangan is prevention. Wala man tay vaccine para maturokan atong mga baboy so prevention (ang solusyon). So strikto ta sa bio-security, strikto sad sa pagpasulod gawas sa atong baboyan,” Sabejon said.

Pigs can get infected with the ASF virus through various ways, such as when farmers would buy hogs in other areas that have prior exposure to the virus, DVMF said.

Sabejon added that pigs can also get ASF if the farmers that raise them are exposed to the blood and feces of other pigs that already have the virus.

Though the ASF virus poses no harm to them, humans and even other animals can also transmit the disease to hogs.

Sabejon said preventive measures are necessary especially that pigs with ASF have a 100 percent mortality rate.

“Ang pasabot anang 100 percent mortality rate kay kung tanang baboy sa usa ka ad matapdan sa ASF, sila gyud tanan mamatay,” Sabejon explained.

Farmers are also encouraged to call the DVMF should they notice any symptoms of ASF in their pigs.

Symptoms of ASF include vomiting, loose and bloody bowel movement, reddening or darkening of the skin, particularly ears and snout; gummed up eyes, labored breathing and coughing; abortion, stillbirths and weak litters for female hogs; and weakness and unwillingness to stand.

Sabejon, however, clarified that some symptoms of ASF are also present in other hog-related diseases, such as hog cholera, erysipelas, and salmonellosis.

“Kung naigo na atong mga baboy, mas maayo nga motawag ta sa DVMF. Para maaksyonan dayon nato. I-confirm nato na, dili ta moingon dayun nga ASF na. Daghan man gud nga parehas og simptomas,” added Sabejon.

The DVMF said they often collect blood samples from pigs in areas where a suspected death occurs to determine if ASF has indeed spread in that locality. (CEBU NEWS)