DINALUPIHAN, Bataan | Jan. 16 (PNA) —  African swine fever (ASF) has affected two towns in this province, as laboratory tests on Wednesday showed that some hogs were found positive of the virus.

Four villages in this land-locked town and one in neighboring Hermosa were found with ASF-infected swine in backyard piggeries and commercial farms.

Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia announced Wednesday what she described as “bad news” and said that the potential source has not yet been 100 percent identified. “But from (from information in the meeting, the cause seemed to be swill feeding,” she said.

 

 

“We are coordinating with the proper authorities and the province on how to control, maintain, contain and manage the situation. And of course, we are asking the public for their cooperation,” she added.

Garcia met with provincial veterinarian Alberto Venturina and representatives from the Department of Agriculture-Region 3 in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Garcia said Venturina will discuss additional preventive measures against ASF with municipal agriculturists and municipal veterinarians.

“This virus is vivious; thus, we should not keep the news to ourselves, it should be reported. We have to face the situation; we cannot just leave it on the ground, we have to confront (it),” she said.

She said that measures based on protocol were already put in place, including the establishment of checkpoints.

Garcia said she has asked the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Renato Matawaran to hold a special session to discuss additional measures needed. She also conferred with all barangay chairpersons.

Meanwhile, Hermosa municipal administrator Rex Jorge said test in some backyard piggeries in Barangay Mabiga showed the presence of ASF.

He said their municipal veterinarian has also collected samples from backyard piggeries in six other barangays and they are expecting the results of the tests on Friday.

He said that more or less 30 heads of pigs found weak from Barangay Mabiga were already culled and buried.

“Barangay Mabiga has already been isolated, so there are no hogs exiting and entering there. The barangay has already put up checkpoint,” Jorge said.

He said that as per their meeting with the provincial veterinarian on Wednesday, checkpoints will also be placed in Orani, the town next to Hermosa.

“They want the towns of Hermosa and Dinalupihan to be isolated so that the ASF virus would not enter Orani and other towns in Bataan,” he said.

Mabiga is adjacent to Dinalupihan.

Jorge said Hermosa has many backyard piggeries and only one commercial farm, which is so far not yet affected by the ASF virus. — Ernie Esconde