Bacolod has ASF cases, taps villages for disease monitoring

Bacolod City has logged four confirmed cases of African swine fever (ASF) amid intensified biosecurity and border control measures to curb the transmission of the deadly hog disease.

In a press conference at the City Mayor’s Office Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Maria Agueda de la Torre, head of City Veterinary Office, said those that tested positive are hogs in Barangay Alijis and Barangay Taculing.

She said the results were based on the blood samples submitted for testing to the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Western Visayas’ Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

“We will still put up border controls as well as conduct information and education campaign, particularly in barangays that have hog population. We will also conduct surveillance testing and send the samples to the DA,” de la Torre said.

In his ASF prevention and containment order, Mayor Greg Gasataya directed the reactivation of “Bantay ASF sa Barangay,” which tasks the barangays to assist in the surveillance and monitoring of ASF in their respective areas.

Gasataya also ordered the enforcement of stricter biosecurity measures such as cleaning and disinfection of farms, equipment and transport vehicles; use of footbaths; limiting farm visitors; and quarantine of newly purchased or returned pigs for 30 days.

“If there is a confirmed or suspected case of ASF, the City Veterinary Office will recommend quarantine areas and disease control zones in accordance with national guidelines,” the mayor said.

In 2023, more than 800 hog raisers here reported swine deaths due to ASF, which had almost wiped out the backyard swine population in Bacolod.* (Nanette Guadalquiver)