African swine fever hits 4 Cagayan towns

Four towns in Cagayan province are affected by African swine fever (ASF), the province’s acting veterinarian said Monday.

Dr. Noli Buen said the spread of ASF in four municipalities was confirmed on July 29. Before that, the last cases in Cagayan were reported on May 21.

Buen said the disease may have reached the towns because municipal officials failed to conduct checkpoint operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buen said 1,411 hog farmers are affected by the spread of ASF. More than 5,500 hogs have been culled, he added.

He said the province is providing P3,000 per head (for a maximum of three heads) to hog farmers affected by ASF.

Buen said the spread of ASF in these four areas is now “under control.”