Belmonte says ASF virus in 2 QC barangays contained

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte assured the public that the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus detected in Barangays Bagong Silangan and Payatas had already been contained with no new cases reported in other areas.

“Once we finish depopulating hogs in these barangays, we can already declare [Quezon City] an ASF-free city,” she said in a statement.

Of the 45 pig blood samples in the two barangays that were submitted last week by the city veterinary department to the Bureau of Animal Industry, 21 tested positive for ASF.

This prompted the city government to tighten its restriction on backyard piggeries and to launch an information campaign to prevent the spread of the virus.

As of Tuesday, head veterinarian Anamarie Cabel said that around 1,500 pigs from 482 hog raisers in Payatas and 369 of 909 pigs in Bagong Silangan had already been culled.  —Mariejo S. Ramos