By Marisol Bo-oc, Helen Castano | 06:22 PM August 08, 2023
The contagious African swine fever (ASF) has reached the Bohol soil after three years of being ASF-free.
Hogs which died in Barangay San Vicente, Pilar town tested positive for ASF, provincial veterinarian Ma. Stella “Bing” Lapiz said during the Special Edition of The Capitol Reports on Tuesday, Aug. 8.
The samples were collected in surveillance activities by the provincial veterinary office and were submitted to the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnosis Laboratory in Central Visayas for testing. These were subsequently sent to the BAI for confirmation following the initial results.
Provincial administrator Aster Caberte said that the provincial government and concerned agencies are doing to immediately control and prevent further spread of ASF.
Gov. Aris Aumentado issued an executive order on last July 28 banning the entry and exit of hogs, including fresh and frozen pork products, and suspending swine-related activities following the detection of the virus in the town.
Since 2019, Bohol province has been banning the entry of live hogs and pork products from areas hit by the virus.
Bohol has a P6-billion hog industry.
The African swine fever does not pose health risks on humans, but they can carry the virus and spread the disease. The virus quickly spreads in an affected hog, which could lead to death after three to five days, threatening food supply.
