1k hogs dead in Mindanao's Davao Occidental ASF outbreak —official

The African Swine Fever that hit swine farms in Central Luzon and Metro Manila last year has made its way to Mindanao and reportedly killed a thousand pigs in a town in Davao Occidental.

In a memorandum issued January 31, Don Marcelino town Mayor Michael Maruya said the continuing incidence of ASF has caused "the mortality of more or less 1,000 heads of swine."

African Swine Fever has reached Mindanao.

Statement of Municipal Government of Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental said 1,000 pigs died in several barangays due to ASF. | via @Ted_Cordero pic.twitter.com/X4XDk1NjIX

— GMA News (@gmanews) February 1, 2020

Affected barangays in the town include Linadasan, North Lamidan, South Lamidan, Calian, Mabuhay, Lawa, Nueva Villa, and Baluntaya.

Maruya said the disease "poses threat on safety of consumers eating pork meat products in the municipality."

"With this, the Department of Agriculture Region XI and Provincial Veterinarian Office conducted sample collection and validation of hogs and recommended a temporary lockdown," the town mayor said.

Heads of barangays, the Philippine National Police, and other concerned offices and agencies were directed to establish a 24/7 animal quarantine checkpoints at various points of entry of the town. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News