ASF Also Detected in 5 Areas in Cebu

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) reported new African Swine Fever (ASF) cases in Cebu City, Liloan, Sibonga, Tuburan, and Bogo City, as of March 20, 2023.

The said samples were from backyard farms from the mentioned areas that were sent to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory (RADDL) VII and were tested using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).

In a Facebook post, BAI said that they are in close coordination with the Department of Agriculture and LGUs in monitoring suspected cases of ASF and creating measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The BAI works closely with Veterinary Offices and Agriculture Offices of the Local Government Units and DA-Regional Field Offices in the implementation of ASF prevention and control strategies,” BAI said in a Facebook post.

African Swine Fever is highly contagious and deadly to pigs. Even though it does not affect humans, the virus could quickly spread to other pigs and potentially affect the hog industry.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recommended the culling of depopulation of pigs that are infected or in close contact with the virus. (ASC)