QC vet: Burial of ASF-infected pigs followed procedure

The Quezon City Veterinary Office assured the public that the burial of 50 pigs that died due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus in Novaliches on Wednesday followed sanitary and environmental protocols.

City veterinarian Anamarie Cabel denied reports that the pigs’ burial in a residential area on San Nicasio Street in Barangay Gulod was “very disturbing and untidy.”

Cabel said their team, as well as representatives from the environmental protection and waste management departments, went to the site to facilitate the culling of the infected pigs.

According to Cabel, the burial was allowed by barangay officials and the lot owner.

The mass grave was 12 feet deep and sprayed with disinfectant and lime, she added. Standard procedure dictated that the culled pigs should be buried within the barangay to prevent transmission of the virus.

Earlier this month, Mayor Joy Belmonte confirmed that the city government found cases of ASF in Barangay Gulod, Novaliches.

The discovery came just days after the city government cleared six of the eight ASF-infected barangays, namely, Barangays Tatalon, Roxas, Pasong Tamo, Bagong Silangan, Tandang Sora and Commonwealth.—MARIEJO S. RAMOS