By Brian Jules Campued
New cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) were detected in three towns of Occidental Mindoro, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.
According to DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the towns which had recorded cases of ASF were Rizal, Sta. Cruz, and San Jose.
“BAI confirmed the ASF cases in Occidental Mindoro on Jan. 12, a few days after a couple of barangays in Sta. Cruz and San Jose reported an unusual number of pig deaths,” it explained.
As of Jan. 17, the BAI has confirmed seven cases in San Jose, five cases in Sta. Cruz, and two cases in Rizal, DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said.
Cullings, depopulation, and surveillance are currently being implemented in the affected towns.
The Agriculture department added that it also logged a case of ASF in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Naujan, with Calapan, still in Oriental Mindoro, had previous cases of ASF.
The town of Baco, also in Oriental Mindoro, is being monitored as well, the DA said.
The agency had placed the said towns under a red zone to restrict hog movement while waiting for the requests of other local government units and farmers for additional surveillance groups or for compensation for the slaughtered hogs.
It added that it pays P5,000 for each slaughtered swine due to ASF, with the limit at 20 heads of pigs. – avds
