WV STILL ASF-FREE: DA-6 keeps eye on online selling of pork-based products

Western Visayas remains free from the African Swine Fever (ASF) status despite the presence of the infection in neighboring areas in Visayas.

Based on the latest national ASF Zoning status issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry, all areas in Region 6 remain free from ASF with zero cases reported from June 9 to 15, 2021.

The infected zones in the Visayas include parts of Leyte, Masbate and Samar.

Despite its ASF-free status, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas is closely monitoring the online sale of pork and pork-based products, especially those coming from the Visayas region.

According to Dr. Jonic Natividad chairperson of the Regional ASF Task Force, they are monitoring the rampant online selling of pork and pork-based products.

“Those that were found na may violation or coming from areas infected with ASF, ginareport ta and gina-forward sa concerned sa LGUs. Those that were confiscated were huge threats sa ASF sa aton swine industry,” Natividad said in the regular program of DA-6 aired on Monday.

Natividad added that DA-6 acquired a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine to capacitate the detection of ASF in the region.

With the machine, the region can now conduct its own testing and samples will no longer be sent to the BAI in Manila.

Natividad reminded the public that early detection and early reporting to the authorities in case there are death incidents among swine continues to be an effective precautionary measure to prevent the entry of ASF in the region.

In a separate advisory, DA-6 appealed to the hog raisers to avoid feeding their swine with “swills”. Meanwhile, consumers are advised to refrain from buying pork and pork-based products from areas with ASF. (ERS)