ASF outbreak kills 500 pigs in San Enrique

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — African swine fever has been confirmed in San Enrique, Negros Occidental, resulting in the deaths of at least 500 pigs, Mayor Jilson Tubillara said in a media interview Tuesday.

Tubillara said laboratory test results released Monday confirmed ASF infections in all 10 barangays in the municipality.

Following the confirmation, Tubillara said he immediately ordered the enforcement of stricter biosecurity measures, including the establishment of border inspection checkpoints to help contain the disease.

Despite the outbreak, the mayor said some pigs in the town remain unaffected.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said ASF cases have been concentrated in the southern part of the province.

He estimated that slightly more than 1% of the province’s swine population has been affected.

“It’s a little over one percent population were affected. What’s important is we follow the protocols in addressing this,” he added.

Lacson emphasized the importance of adhering to established protocols, including the immediate burial of dead pigs and the disinfection of affected farms to prevent the further spread of the virus.

The governor recalled that previous efforts to control ASF had been successful, allowing farmers to gradually repopulate their stocks.

However, he acknowledged that completely eliminating the disease could take time.

“It will take a while before it can be totally eradicated,” he said.

To safeguard the province’s PHP 6 billion swine industry, the provincial government earlier imposed a ban on the entry of pork and pork products originating from ASF-affected areas.

Negros Occidental is one of the country’s major hog-producing provinces, with a swine industry valued at PHP 6 billion.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs, but it is not considered harmful to humans.

Meanwhile, the municipal government of La Castellana has imposed a temporary prohibition on the entry of live swine, swine semen, pork, and pork-derived products from outside the town as a precautionary biosecurity measure.

Mayor Añejo Nicor issued Executive Order No. 026-045 on Monday, stressing that the movement and entry of live swine, swine semen, pork, and pork-derived products from outside the municipality may pose biosecurity risks that could adversely affect local swine populations and the livelihood of local raisers.

“This measure shall not be construed as a declaration of the presence of any particular animal disease within the municipality of La Castellana,” Nicor stressed.

Nicor said the local government recognizes the importance of protecting the local livestock industry, the livelihood of backyard hog raisers, and the food security of its constituents.

He said it is necessary to adopt immediate and proportionate preventive measures to strengthen local biosecurity while maintaining coordination with concerned government agencies.

The order was based on the recommendation of the Municipal Agriculture Office as a precautionary measure, in view of reported livestock concerns in neighboring local government units.

The order stated that pork, pork-derived products, and processed pork products already lawfully present, stored, displayed, or sold within the town on or before June 22 are exempt from the temporary prohibition, provided such products are not subsequently transported into, replenished from, or sourced from outside the town after the order takes effect.

All persons, establishments, retailers, food service providers, and vendors claiming exemption must, when required, present proof that the products were already within the municipality before the order took effect.

Appropriate inspection and monitoring measures may be undertaken at identified entry points, markets, slaughter-related facilities, and other areas where the movement, transport, sale, storage, or distribution of covered items may be monitored.

All hog raisers, traders, transporters, meat vendors, market operators, and residents were directed to cooperate with the Municipal Agriculture Office and other implementing offices.

The temporary prohibition may be reviewed, modified, or lifted upon the recommendation of the Municipal Agriculture Office.

The review may be made when reported livestock mortality concerns in neighboring local government units have significantly regressed or stabilized, when there is no recorded similar livestock concern within La Castellana, and when concerned technical authorities determine that lifting or modifying the restriction will not compromise local biosecurity.