Pilar, Bohol retains its

ASF-free status-DA BAI

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Aug 25 (PIA) –Bohol still retains its dark green color codification and is still African Swine Fever-free (ASF-Free).

No less than the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) through Director and veterinarian Dr. Paul Limson, bared this is his communication to DA-7 Regional Executive Director (RED) Angel Enriquez, dated August 17, 2023.

In his letter to DA-7 RED Enriquez, Dir. Quimson cited Bohol’s timely depopulation, cleaning and disinfection protocols, and continued surveillance activities contributed to the maintenance of the zoning status of Bohol and PIlar, which remains a dark green and thus ASF-free zone.

Such is, according to Dir. Quimson, contingent upon the absence of any other confirmed case in the farm, and in nearby barangays within the last 15 days.

The animal doctor also based his statement on the documentary reports and the laboratory results his office obtained from the concerned Department of Agriculture, Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) in Bohol.

It may be recalled that reports reaching the OPV in mid-July bared of mysterious deaths of pigs in swine farms of Purok VI in San Vicente Pilar.

Investigation team comprised of veterinarians and local livestock aides went to the area and immediately gathered data for anecdotal reports, blood samples and sent them for laboratory testing.

Within that span, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado also issued an Executive Order, reactivating the ASF councils and mandating the implementation of all anti-ASF measures adding the Bohol has to treat the viral infection causing the animal deaths as ASF.

Tracing the viral infection in 9 family-pigfarms in San Vicente, the team put up cordons within the first 100 meters from the index cases of viral infection, despite pending confirmatory results from DA-7 laboratory, the ASF team put up foot mats to affected houses, depopulated nearby farms and sprayed disinfectants to the identified pigpens to decimate the virus causing the deaths.

The team also gathered blood samples from the first 100 meters from any pigpen with an animal death case, and proceeded to gather some more samples from the 500 meters outside the index cases.

As the blood samples taken from the 9 family-pigpens were confirmed ASF, those blood samples gathered from the first 100 meters and the next 500 meters produced negative for the viral infection based on the RT PCR test results.

With these in consideration, the DA, in compliance with Department Administrative Circular No 12, series of 2019 on the National Zoning and Movement Plan for the Prevention and Control of ASF and Administrative Circular No 02, series of 2022 as an amendment to DA Circular No 12, the DA ruled for Bohol.

As the Amended Circular defined infected zones as Red Zones for those municipalities or cities with confirmed outbreaks of ASF confirmed cases, detected in domestic or wild pigs in affected farms in one barangay, spreading to other barangays of the same municipality or city, occurring within 15 days.

For San Vicente Pilar, while there was a confirmed and even verified case of ASF as detected, but with the disease not able to spread to other barangays within 15 days, the situation could not qualify for the Red Zone.

Even before the DA could put up a red zone for Pilar, Bohol, with the lapse of 15 days and without any other outbreaks outside the index cases, the DA BAI ruled a Dark Green Zone for Pilar and for Bohol.

Dark Green Zone is raised in municipalities or cities where ASF is not detected and are considered ASF low-risk areas. (PIA/Bohol)

BACK TO BORDER CONTROL. With the ASF incursion now proving to be effectively contained, it is back to border control and defense for the AST Task Force and its army of veterinary quarantine inspectors, coastal barangay officials and the uniformed service personnel in making sure nothing slips in through the porous Bohol coastlines. Rolling cargo entering Bohol gets to be doused with disinfectants, and can not drive out of the ports if these are not dried enough. (PIABOhol)