ASF not confirmed yet

in Dauis’ swine deaths

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, April 20 (PIA)—For the second time, Bohol’s claim to be African Swine Fever (ASF) free is now at stake as local authorities scamper to conduct disease investigation and blood sampling for laboratory confirmation as well as strategically contain the disease if proven to be positive.

Through Executive Order No. 13, series of 2024, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado immediately ordered the ban on transporting live pigs, cooked and uncooked pork meat and pork products from Panglao Island.

By April 18, police have been assisting local ASF Task Forces in keeping checkpoints in the island’s access roads to the mainland, as precautionary measures in case the yet-undetermined animal disease reported in Purok 5 Mayacabac and Purok 4 of Biking, all in Dauis town in Panglao island, is confirmed to be viral.

The transport prohibition based on the governor’s executive action lasts for the next 30 days, and could be quite a challenge to implement with the fiesta seasons already at the corner.

ASF, a highly contagious disease fatal to hogs, started in Africa and spread throughout the world.

Although the virus does not affect people and has no reported impact on human health, in its acute form, can wipe out entire hog populations.

Still without any vaccines to stop its spread, ASF has hit many provinces in the country, making Bohol among the very few places free from the hog disease.

It may be recalled that in August of 2023, confirmed cases of ASF infection were reported in a barangay in Pilar, Bohol.

Authorities however were quick and effectively contained the disease, culling those within the possible infection areas and cordoning the affected areas to keep the virus within the location for easier and more efficient disinfection.

After some 21 days, authorities from the Department of Agriculture has declared the disease contained and the virus annihilated from the affected areas.

As Bohol attempts to insulate its Php 6 billion swine industry against all forms of diseases especially the highly contagious ASF, it has set up active measures and vigilant network of livestock industry stakeholders and put up enabling ordinances to effect cooperation among local government units to unite in preventing the entry of the virus, and in containing the same, once infections are detected.

According to the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian through Dr Stella Marie Lapiz, in the afternoon of April 17, 2024, they received reports of multiple illnesses and deaths of pigs in the two locations.

As to the deaths, the OPV said there is a high probability that it is caused by an undetermined virus, but until samples are collected and are processed in laboratory settings, they could not positively confirm if it is ASF.

To this, according to the governor, Bohol through the OPV, Municipal Government of Dauis and Barangay Officials are conducting on-going disease investigation and blood sampling for laboratory examination to conclusively determine the specific disease.

With this, by invoking the state policy on supporting livestock development and promotion of animal health by preventing the entry of disease-carrying animals as stated in applicable provisions of the National Meat Inspection Code, strict observance of disease prevention and relevant control measures to increase production volume, improving safety and quality and enhancing the value of livestock commodities resulting in over-all sustainability and food security, Gov Aumentado also reminds local government units of their inherent powers provided by the local government code for appropriate and necessary action.

Section 16 of the LGC provides that LGUS exercise the powers expressly granted, implied and necessary, appropriate and incidental, for efficient and effective governance to promote general welfare.

By the operation of the ASF ordinance in Bohol, authorities are border security control measures to stop the transport of subject livestock or meat in raw and processed, until the ban is lifted or the infection and disease have been contained and declared safe. (PIABohol)