AUTHORITIES of Oriental Mindoro have reported detection of their first cases of African swine fever (ASF).
Governor Bonz Dolor, in a statement, said the cases of ASF, which does not affect human health, came from the Danggay and Bagumbayan villages in Roxas town.
He ordered sample testing for the highly contagious pig disease in five more villages in Roxas as well as in one village in Mansalay town that reported suspected ASF cases.
Checkpoints will be put up in the borders of Roxas and Bongabong towns and in the Roxas-Mansalay boundary, he said.
The sale of pork through the Danggay or Roxas ports is prohibited starting Monday, the governor added.
Governor Dolor said he would recommend to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to place Roxas and Mansalay towns under a state of calamity following the ASF detection in the province.
The Oriental Mindoro government is also coordinating with the Department of Agriculture for the delivery of ASF test kits, Dolor said, advising pig owners to immediately report to authorities any observed hog illness.
Last week, the first African swine fever cases were detected in Canjalon village in San Fernando, Romblon, according to provincial veterinarian Paul Medina Minano.
