Negros Oriental is ramping up testing on hog blood samples across towns and cities after the detection of African swine fever (ASF) in Valencia raised alarm.
Authorities are moving swiftly to confirm whether the virus has spread beyond the area, as concerns grow over a potential resurgence.
Alejandro Rafal, head of the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO), revealed that his office received reports of ASF cases in the province.
“Confirmatory tests have to be done to ascertain if there is an ASF resurgence outside of Valencia,” Rafal stated, stressing the urgency of the situation.
On August 9, the Provincial Veterinary Office reported that no new cases were recorded in Valencia following the culling of nearly 200 hogs in Barangay West Balabag.
Despite this, Rafal is pushing for stronger biosecurity measures across both the city and the province to prevent the virus from spreading.
Rafal pointed to a lack of monitoring and irregular blood testing of hogs as possible reasons for the resurgence of ASF cases. He also noted that the virus might be spreading due to the transfer of hogs and pork products without proper certification from local government units.
The DA-PATCO chief further urged hog raisers to stop the practice of swill feeding, which can contribute to the spread of the virus.
An earlier report from the office indicated that 160 hogs had been infected with ASF. The initial investigation found that the virus was detected last month, but was unreported by hog raisers who feared their live hogs would be culled.
To contain the spread of ASF, the Negros Oriental Police established checkpoints, ensuring that no live hogs leave Barangay West Balabag for nearby towns such as Sibulan and Bacong.
Data from the Veterinary Offices showed that over half a million hogs are raised on Negros Island, with an estimated 300,000 in Negros Occidental and 255,513 in Negros Oriental.
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria declared the province an “ASF-free green zone” following the earlier containment of the virus.
However, the recent resurgence has alarmed officials, who are now on high alert to prevent a repeat of the devastating impact ASF and hog cholera had on the province’s hog industry in 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 18,000 hogs, including those in Bacolod City.
