Hogs in 3 Occidental Mindoro towns negative for ASF–DA

Hogs raised in three towns of Occidental Mindoro province have tested negative for African swine fever (ASF) nearly two weeks after the provincial government announced an outbreak in these areas, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Tests conducted at the Bureau of Animal Industry’s (BAI) regional animal disease diagnostic laboratory “confirmed the absence of ASF in the local pig population,” the DA said on Friday.

The outbreak declared on Jan. 23 in the towns of San Jose, Santa Cruz and Rizal prompted the provincial government to set up meat inspection checkpoints and quarantine producers.

The three towns supply hogs to Metro Manila and parts of Western Visayas.

BAI first confirmed the ASF cases in the province on Jan. 12, or days after a number of barangays in Santa Cruz and San Jose reported an “unusual number of pig deaths.”

DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa later confirmed seven ASF cases in San Jose, five in Santa Cruz and two in Rizal.

According to the DA, new blood tests were conducted this week to secure a Recognition of Active Surveillance on ASF certification, which would allow the entry and exit of hogs in Occidental Mindoro.

“This measure is implemented to prevent the potential spread of ASF and maintain the biosecurity of pig farms in the province,” the DA said.

Apart from Occidental Mindoro, the agency has previously recorded ASF cases in the provinces of La Union, Zambales, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, Misamis Occidental and Surigao del Sur.

At least 72 of the country’s 82 provinces have confirmed ASF cases since it was first detected in 2019.

The DA provides P5,000 for each culled pig of backyard raisers in ASF-infected areas. —MEG J. ADONIS