African Swine Fever reported in Kidapawan City village —DA12

KIDAPAWAN CITY —The African swine fever virus has already penetrated one of the 40 villages in the city, top agriculture official confirmed on Saturday morning.

Department of Agriculture Region 12 executive director Arlan Mangelen said blood samples collected from hogs of raisers in Barangay Linangcob turned out to be positive for ASF.

“We confirmed the entry of ASF in Kidapawan City,” Mangelen said.

Likewise, he said ASF is now affecting at least four areas in Cotabato province particularly in the towns of Magpet, Arakan, President Roxas, and Kidapawan City.

Barangay Linangcob chairman Rodolfo Rodriguez, said that at least 324 hogs were culled within the 5, 7- and 10-kilometer radius based on the protocol of the Department of Agriculture.

Rodriguez told villagers to immediately butcher their pigs and bury the animals instead of consuming or selling the meat to prevent ASF contamination.

On the other hand, Director Mangelen pegged at nearly P7 million the losses due to ASF in Cotabato province.

“What we need is cooperation from our people. Let us all be very vigilant and help the government in their campaign against the ASF,” Mangelen appealed. —LBG, GMA News