58 pigs in Cebu test positive for African swine fever

MANILA, Philippines — African swine fever (ASF) was found among 58 blood samples from pigs in Carcar City, Cebu, according to the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia ordered strict border control after confirming the presence of ASF in the city.

READ: Cebu detects first ASF infection in lechon-famous Carcar City

“The Bureau of Animal Industry confirms that 58 out of 149 blood samples tested from Carcar City, Cebu resulted positive for African Swine Fever last March 1, 2023, using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction,” said the bureau in a Facebook post.

Samples were initially collected by Carcar’s City Veterinary Office and sent to the DA-BAI’s regional office. Since then, the City Veterinary Office has deployed response teams for disease surveillance.

“Movement control measures are being implemented, and coordination with the local government units is ongoing,” said the DA-BAI.

The agency encouraged those raising pigs to report unusual illnesses and deaths to their local agriculture and veterinary offices. They are also advised to stop feeding their pigs food scraps and to intensify biosecurity measures.

“The public is advised not to panic and to cooperate with the authorities on implementing ASF control protocols in the province,” said the DA-BAI.

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