ASF spreads to 2 more villages in Misamis Oriental

ILIGAN CITY—African swine fever (ASF) spread to two more villages in two Misamis Oriental towns.

Dr. Benjamin Resma, provincial veterinarian, said tests on samples from pigs in the villages of Oguis, Initao town, and Digkilaan, Manticao town confirmed the ASF outbreak there.

This brings to five the number of villages in the province plagued by the highly-contagious hog disease which is threatening supply of pork nationwide.

The ASF outbreak was first reported in Jampason in Initao and Pagawan in Manticao. It spread to Kibaghot village in Laguindingan town.

Resma said that his office had culled a total of 909 pigs to prevent the further spread of the disease. The provincial government paid P2,000 per culled pig.

The agriculture department is also expected to provide indemnification of P5,000 per culled hog.

At least 272 farmers suffered losses because of the ASF outbreak in the province, Resma said.

TSB