TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar has banned the entry of live hogs from Luzon, Mindanao, and Leyte province as a preventive measure against the rising threat of African swine fever (ASF) in the region.
Governor Edwin Ongchuan signed Executive Order (EO) 02-01-21 imposing the 60-day ban that took effect on Monday and will last until March 19 to keep the province ASF-free.
The directive came after the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed the first case of ASF in the region from backyard farms in Abuyog, Leyte on Jan. 14.
The disease already affected its nearby towns of La Paz and Javier, based on the latest advisory of the regional task force against ASF.
“The provincial veterinary office has already assigned personnel in our border checkpoints in the towns of San Isidro and Lope de Vega, while members of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) lead the monitoring teams in seaports,” said Allen Berbon, provincial information officer, in a phone interview on Friday.
He added that the provincial task force is also set to issue another EO that would prohibit all pork shipments including boar semen and other related food items.
“Likewise, they also intend to prohibit pork imports and swill feeding, conduct information drives, and submit samples for laboratory testing,” Berbon said.
Meanwhile, the DA regional office here urged the public to immediately report unusual swine mortality and contact the DA-BAI at 0920-854-3119 or the regional ASF coordinator at 0915-184-1883.
Pigs affected by ASF usually manifest high fever, distinct reddish spots on the neck, chest, and extremities, and bleeding of internal organs that could lead to death within two to 10 days.
Although the virus does not affect humans, infected animals are unfit for consumption under the Food Safety Act. (PNA)
