Two ASF cases detected in Bacolod

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez confirmed on Friday, May 26, that two suspected cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) were detected in Barangay Taculing here.

This was based on the RT-PCR test conducted by the personnel of the Department of Agriculture-6 (DA-6), who visited here yesterday.

Benitez said the barangay captain learned that one of the two pigs died last Thursday, while the other one was already weak when tested.

Benitez said the specimen will be subjected to confirmatory test in Manila. But, he noted that based on the initial test, the two pigs were “99 percent positive for ASF.”

The pigs were reportedly raised in a backyard piggery in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

With this, Benitez said he discussed with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson the issuance of a joint executive order that will spell out ways to contain the infection.

Earlier, the local government here has issued an executive order for the prevention of the entry of ASF in the city.

Benitez said they will intensify their testing in barangays to ensure that there will be no additional cases here.

He said they have borrowed an equipment from DA to hasten the testing.

Despite this, Benitez assured that ASF does not pose threats to humans, according to the City Veterinary Office.

However, he said the infection will affect the piggery industry here, and that is what they want to protect.