Nearly a dozen cases of African swine fever discovered in QC

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte confirmed on Saturday that African swine fever or ASF had caused the deaths of nearly a dozen hogs in the city's Barangay Bagong Silangan.

"Labing-isang baboy ang confirmed na namatay sa Barangay Bagong Silangan, at batay sa datos ng City Veterinarian's Office, positive sila sa African swine fever," Belmonte said on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Meron ding report mula sa Barangay Payatas na mga mortality, pero hindi pa kumpirmado kung ang ikinamatay ay African swine fever," she added.

Belmonte had thus ordered city veterinarians to investigate alleged ASF cases.

The QC mayor also emphasized that, according to protocols, all hogs within a kilometer of a discovered case of ASF needed to be destroyed and city officials were fully prepared to meet this requirement.

"Mga identified piggeries sa QC, mahigpit na binabantayan para siguraduhing walang mailalabas para dalhin o ilipat sa ibang lugar," said Belmonte.

However, she emphasized that while the development was concerning, the city government was determined to control the spread of the disease.

"Walang kailangang ikabahala dahil noong una pa lang na mapabalita sa ibang lalawigan na mayroong virus, nagtayo na tayo ng mga checkpoint sa lahat ng entry ways towards the city," claimed Belmonte.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) had earlier placed more areas under quarantine for the possible presence of ASF.

"Meron po sa Central Luzon pero hindi pa po namin puwedeng sabihin para magawa natin 'yung ground zero or '1-7-10' protocol natin," Agriculture Secretary William Dar said on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

Under the protocol, quarantine checkpoints which monitor the movement of live pigs, pork, and pork products, were set up in areas within a 1-kilometer radius of affected farms.

Within a 7-kilometer radius, authorities surveil and limit animal movement.

Farm owners within the 10-kilometer radius were required to report any disease to the DA. — DVM, GMA News