More ASF cases detected in Negros Occidental towns

FILE PHOTO: A pig pen in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, is regularly cleaned as a precaution against the spread of African swine fever (ASF). PHOTO COURTESY OF GUIHULNGAN VETERINARY OFFICE

BACOLOD CITY — More cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been detected in Kabankalan City and Hinigaran town in Negros Occidental.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), in a report dated July 1, said there were two specimens that tested positive for ASF in Barangay Linao, one in Barangay Binicuil and 13 in Barangay 6 in Kabankalan City.

Barangays Camba-og and Gargato in Hinigaran also had one pig each that tested positive for ASF.

The pig deaths in Negros Occidental from hog cholera, ASF and other diseases have reached 16,361 with losses amounting to P186,633,250 on Sunday, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson assured that despite the deaths, Negros Occidental still has adequate pork supply.

“We’re still okay as far as pork supply is concerned, if you’ve noticed all the parties still have lechon,” he said.

Negros Occidental has in fact shipped out 10,000 pigs for sale in other parts of the country since the hog deaths were detected in some parts of the province,” he added.

The governor said there are days when no new barangays or local governments have pig deaths.

“So the deaths appear to have been contained or slowed down,” Lacson said.

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