Koronadal City— The Provincial Government of South Cotabato contained the spread of African Swine Flu (ASF) in five days, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Flora Bigot confirmed.
The Provincial Veterinary Office received a report of a possible case of ASF in the City of Koronadal last January 31, 2020, after a hog raiser observed that the piglets he bought in Sulop, Davao Occidental died after they have transported it a few days after.
“We immediately visited and inspected the area. On the Midnight of February 1, we received an initial result of the confirmatory test,” Bigot said.
The following day, Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. called the town mayors and issued an ASF alert.
“It is under control,” Bigot assured.
In a meeting with Agriculture Secretary William Dar, the laboratory result confirmed 11 pigs were infected with the ASF virus.
However, DA put the City of Koronadal on modified lockdown after the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) verified that the virus did not emanate locally.
Based on the disease surveillance, all hogs around the one-kilometer radius turned out negative.
Meanwhile, the declaration of modified lockdown will bar the transport of live pigs of the city from any point of South Cotabato.
BAI will issue a notice of the assurance of the safety of the swine industry after continued disease surveillance.
The public is requested to refrain from buying pork in the makeshift market instead, of certified meat sellers.
Bigot, however, said that the hogs were culled based on the animal welfare act.
Quarantine posts were activated in Barangay Glamang, General Santos City and the town of Tantangan. Local Chief Executives are directed to strictly comply with the biosecurity measures to guard the spread of ASF virus.
“Please let us know immediately if you observed that your hogs are suffering from any disease,” Bigot added.
