Pigs culled in QC to prevent spread of African swine fever

MANILA, Philippines—Local authorities culled at least 50 pigs in Quezon City in a bid to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in other areas.

This came after 11 dead pigs from Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City tested positive for ASF.

READ: Dead pigs found in QC being tested for swine fever

In a statement Monday, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte explained that the culling of pigs is part of standard protocol during an animal disease outbreak.

Hogs within the infected zones or within the 1-km radius are automatically culled to prevent the ASF from infecting other animals in nearby areas.

Even before the positive ASF test results came out, the local government had already ordered the gradual phase-out of piggeries within the city in keeping with its land-use plan, which does not contain any zones for agricultural purposes.

Nonetheless, the local government assured affected piggery owners of financial and livelihood assistance.

Local authorities have also requested more police checkpoints within the 1-kilometer radius of affected areas to prioritize containment of ASF in Barangay Bagong Silangan.

The City Veterinary Office also vowed to intensify monitoring of major public markets and slaughterhouses to prevent the entry of ASF-infected meat and double dead meat.

According to the Department of Agriculture, more than 7,400 pigs in farms in Antipolo City and Rodriguez in Rizal province and in Guiguinto in Bulacan province were culled to prevent the spread of ASF.

The DA, however, assured the public that local pork products were safe to eat. /je