By PR | 06:27 PM April 27, 2024
The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) and the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) continued their collaborative efforts to contain African Swine Fever (ASF)-related cases in Dauis.
During the weekly, The Capitol Reports in its April 26 episode, Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, provincial agriculturist, shared updates on the groundwork of the OPV, with the help of DA-BAI personnel in the containment plan.
Following the hog deaths that began in February, the index case could not be identified anymore, so immediate border control was implemented through arranged traffic route schemes along Borja Bridge (junction) and Dauis Bridge (causeway) through primary and secondary checkpoints.
Lapiz recently released a report on surveillance and containment measures that on April 17, they initiated blood sampling operations in areas where deaths had been reported.
Blood samples were collected from three barangays, which had 53 samples in Mayacabac, 21 in Barangay Biking, and ongoing blood sample collection from 19 hog owners.
Blood sampling will also be done in all Dauis barangays, with heightened surveillance from DA 7 and BAI.
Following an investigation into signs and symptoms, the suspicion of ASF arose with immediate initial laboratory tests conducted on the samples, which yielded positive results and indicated probable cases.
DA Region 7 further affirmed this, with positive reactors detected in the blood samples collected.
Lapiz also shared that preparations are underway including the disinfection of vehicles already stationed in Dauis as part of containment efforts.
Additionally, initial depopulation measures have also been implemented in Barangays Mariveles and Mayacabac, highlighting proactive steps taken to mitigate the spread of the identified threat.
Executive Order No. 15 series of 2024, designated Purok 5 of barangay Mayacabac and Purok 2 of Barangay Mariveles in Dauis as ASF-infected premises, while all other barangays are quarantine areas as well as Panglao remain a surveillance area.
Meanwhile, the Provincial ASF Inter-Agency Task Force called for the public’s cooperation especially the local government units in containing the outbreak and in campaigning for a clearer understanding of the effects of the outbreak.
The ASF affects the livelihood of backyard hog raisers who account for 80% of the P6 billion hog industry in Bohol.
Based on investigations on hogs transported outside Dauis, through backtracking and forward tracing before the reported outbreak, the blood samples collected have turned up negative.
The OPV has also initiated ongoing profiling and facilitating direct communication between Municipal Agriculture Officers (MAO) and Barangay Livestock Aides (BALA) to enhance disease surveillance.
An indemnification fund for ASF-suspected cases will be provided to hog raisers, including P10,000 from the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare Development, P5,000 from the DA-BAI, and P5,000 from the indemnification fund of the OPV for uninsured pigs. (PiMO/JSS)
