Koronadal City—The Provincial Veterinary Office of South Cotabato performed a 90-day clearing to eight barangays in the town of Banga because of confirmed case of African Swine Fever (ASF) last March as a preventive measure to contain the spread of the virus.
Dr. Flora Bigot, Provincial Veterinary Officer, said the backyard hogs in Banga could not be transported outside of the municipality during the clearing operations.
“We will put a sentinel pig to ensure that the presence of ASF virus is no longer in the area,” Bigot said during the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo.
The sentinel protocol, a science-based approach, ascertains if a virus or disease is still present in an area.
South Cotabato is undertaking a more extensive implementation of the protocol as it hopes to maintain a “green zone ASF status,” Bigot said.
This approach will be performed after the 40-day clearing in the area where the positive case of ASF was detected.
However, the first 30-day undergoes a thorough cleaning and disinfection.
As part of the protocol, when the sentinel pig will no longer experience symptoms of ASF, affected communities are expected to be “released from quarantine,” Bigot added.
