SOUTHERN LEYTE – The African swine fever (ASF) virus continuously affects hogs and swine livelihood as it creeps to different towns in Southern Leyte. This was confirmed by Provincial Governor Damian Mercado during the press briefing last August 10, at Danao Forest, Park Maasin City.
The ASF virus presence in barangay Gakat, Libagon town was confirmed based on samples submitted by Southern Leyte Provincial Veterinary Services Office from the suspected hogs, according to the DA-RFO8’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory VIII report.
“Kanang ASF perti gayud natong pagtutok ana, naa man tay mga problema gamay but makontrol na nato; we are on highly monitoring, from border control and port of entries,” Governor Mercado, explained.
The province of Southern Leyte have established African Swine Fever (ASF) prevention and control measures, according to Mercado. He further said that the virus infected wild boars, unknowingly, might have been used for mating, and hog raisers might have fed contaminated food products to their pigs.
Silago town was the first town to get infected by the swine virus last March 31, particularly from barangay Katipunan. On July 8, barangay Mac, Sogod has been infected, and on August 2 this month, in barangay Gakat, Libagon town.
As of this writing, there are 42 towns and cities in Eastern Visayas that have been affected by the ASF virus. Out of 4,390 villages , 217 villages are infected with a total of 13,679 hogs that have been culled as of July record, representing 6.11 percent of the region’s 223,504 hog population recorded this year, according to Department of Agriculture Eastern Visayas.
(Rhonechelle Cabodbod)
(Photo source: The Pig Site)
