Pigs in Payatas bleed, suffer rashes amid African swine fever threat

Several pigs in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City died amid the confirmed entry of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country.

According to a report by Tina Panganiban-Perez in GMA's 24 Oras on Thursday, a hog-raiser already lost almost half of his herd in one week after they suffered from rashes and hemorrhage.

"Bigla na lang hindi kumakain 'yung baboy ko. 'Yung kinabukasan po, 'yun, hindi na sila makatayo. Nabubuwal na po tapos tinutubuan po sila ng rashes sa katawan. Ibinaon ko po 'yung mga namatay kasi babaho po sila eh," swineherd Renato Santos said.

One of his hogs was found lying on the ground with bleeding ears.

Other hog raisers also reported the death of their pigs to local authorities so that they could receive a financial assistance worth P3,000 for each remaining live hog that they have.

It has not been confirmed yet whether the affected hogs were positive of ASF but the symptoms they showed were among the manifestations of the said disease.

The Quezon City government already expanded their culling operations to Barangay Payatas, in light of the suspicious death of pigs. It was initially conducted in Barangay Bagong Silangan.

Culling is done through lethal injection.

Samples were also taken from hogs in Barangay La Loma.

"Our industry there is quite big and we have to protect our businesses there. That’s why I asked for samples to be taken from there as well just so we can reassure the public. Although napakalayo naman ng La Loma from here at wala namang symptoms or reports," Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

She also reminded the hog raisers to observe proper disposal of affected livestock.

"Kung namatayan kayo, wag po ninyong itapon sa creek kasi that is the fastest way na makarating ang sakit sa iba't ibang dinadaluyan ng creek na 'yan," she said. —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News