Negros Occ. guv says ASF outbreak under control

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — African swine fever has affected 14 of Negros Occidental’s 31 local government units, but Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the outbreak remains under control.

In a media interview Tuesday, Lacson attributed the situation to protocols implemented by local governments based on their previous experience with ASF.

As of July 13, 2,185 of the province’s 61,854 hogs had died.

Lacson said most of the deaths were caused by ASF.

“That’s only 3.53 percent. I hope we can keep it up below five percent,” he said.

Lacson urged hog raisers to immediately bury pigs that die of ASF and disinfect affected areas to help prevent the disease from spreading.

Despite the hog deaths, Lacson said affected local governments know how to respond to the outbreak.

“It will be alarming if we put our guards down, but the way we are reacting, it’s very much under control,” Lacson said.

Authorities have intensified biosecurity measures and established ASF checkpoints at provincial borders to prevent pork products from affected areas from entering the province.

San Enrique was the first local government affected by the resurgence of ASF in the province last month.

Lacson did not release the list of the 14 affected local governments, saying officials should have the discretion to announce and confirm cases in their respective areas.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It does not threaten human health but can cause severe losses in pig populations and the farming economy, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.