2,300 pigs culled as swine fever spreads in Isabela

ILLEGAL DUMPING Dead pigs turn up at an irrigation canal in Ramon town, Isabela, as several hog farms in the province reported cases of African swine fever. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines — More villages and towns in Isabela province have been hit by the African swine fever (ASF), for­cing local veterinarians to cull more than 2,300 pigs to stop the contamination, officials said on Tuesday.

At least 5,300 pigs, believed to be infected with the ASF virus, have also died before the culling, according to Dr. Angelo Naui, Isabela provincial veterinarian.

New cases were detected in the towns of Mallig and Echague after an outbreak hit the towns of Quezon, Roxas, Aurora, Ramon, Luna and San Mateo since the first week of July, Naui said.

At least 32 villages and 365 hog raisers in these towns were affected.

‘Pauraga’ banned

Pig blood samples were taken from some hog farms in Cauayan City and San Manuel town, which were also being closely watched due to reported ASF cases.

A local practice called “pauraga,” or giving meat to neighbors in exchange for farm products, has been banned as precaution since it has led to swine fever cases in some villages, Naui said.

He asked hog raisers to allow rapid diagnosis of their animals as he called for the proper disposal of dead pigs and disinfection of contaminated farms.

On Sunday, eight pigs that possibly died due to ASF were dumped at an irrigation canal in a subdivision in Ramon. The carcasses, which were in the early stage of decomposition, were found along the open waterway in front of the subdivision in Barangay Bugallon Proper. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. INQ