At least nine pigs in Cebu City have tested positive for the African Swine Fever (ASF).
These pigs have since been culled, thus, transmission has been contained, said Dr. Jessica Maribujoc, head of the city’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF).
She said the pigs were owned by a backyard raiser in Barangay Quiot.
Three of 22 pigs died first, which was why the remaining 19 had to be subjected to testing. Nine turned out positive for the ASF virus.
To ensure the virus would not spread, all 19 pigs were culled with the raiser’s permission, as requested by Mayor Nestor Archival.
Maribujoc said the contamination was caused by local transmission.
It also helped that the pigs were raised far from the general population close to the barangay’s border at the city’s mountainous area. The hog raiser is the only one in the barangay.
“Good thing man gud, is, siya ray nagbuhi sa kana nga barangay… sya ray nagbuhi unya layo gyud kaayo… end… bukid gyud syang dapit sa Quiot,” Maribujoc said.
Still, the city is keeping a close eye on the pigs raised in neighboring barangays.
DVMF also heightened its anti-ASF campaign.
Hog raisers are urged to follow basic biosecurity measures to avoid the ASF virus. These measures include:
- Keeping trucks, hog vans, and pigpens clean
- Disinfecting trucks, hog vans, and pigpens weekly
- Keeping feeds out of pigpens
- Keeping other animals away from the pigs
- Washing hands with soap before feeding the pigs
- Taking a bath and changing clothes upon arriving home from other places
- Keeping the footwear outside the pig enclosure
- Keeping visitors away from the pigs
- Keeping gadgets away from the pigs
DVMF also urged hog raisers to register their pigs so that the city can provide them with assistance in the event the animals get struck by illness.
“Part sa atoang awareness, info campaign, sa mga urban barangays is gipa-encourage nato nga ipa-register and ipa-insure sad nila kay ingkaso nga mahitabo na sad sya’g balik, mabayran sya sa ato sa gobyerno,” Maribujoc said.
