ASF-infected area narrows:

50 m radius from index case

for test before forced culling

CORTES, Bohol (PIA)—Bohol continues to innovate especially in its ongoing efforts to stamp out the lingering African Swine Fever (ASF) which it has successfully contained in some areas, with a new order mandating the supplementary guidelines on swine depopulation by a targeted depopulation protocol in infected areas.

Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, who has relentlessly sought with the Provincial anti-ASF Task Force which he leads ways to keep Bohol free from the fatal pig disease what could potentially wipe out local hog population, recently issued Executive Order No 25, series of 2025, adjusting the coverage of infected and quarantine area.

The same order of the governor, introduces targeted and selective depopulation protocols for infected areas which suits certain criteria as assessed by the Provincial ASF Task Force.

The Department of Agriculture has earlier issued Administrative Order No 22 series of 2020, providing the guidelines on swine depopulation upon confirmation of ASF.

The order details two methods of depopulation, set the minimum radius of one kilometer from the Infected premises as the Quarantine Area, and allowed progression of depopulation where the mandatory or non-selective depopulation should initially be done.

This however proved to be so huge an area covering the depopulation, that through Executive Order No 7, series of 2025 adopted a much smaller area; that is, 100 meters radius from the index case as guide in the application of the mandatory depopulation.

Outside of the 100 meter radius, selective depopulation following the test and destroy procedure as well as test and slaughter.

Over this, the implementing task force observed that certain conditions that warrant the application of selective and targeted depopulation method using test and destroy and test and slaughter well within the 100 meter radius from the index case, especially for cases when there was early reporting done.

Recently, with the ongoing ASF incursion in some areas, although most of these are contained, a dwindling of pork supply manifested in the increasing price of pork in markets.

For this, the governor sees it as imperative to adjust the coverage of infected premises and quarantine area.

The new order now covers the first 50 meter radius from the index case as the infected premises and the area beyond the 50 meter radius to 500 meter radius as the Quarantine area.

This adjustment of the selective mandatory and targeted depopulation however is dependent on the assessment of the ASF Task Force in consultation with the municipal and barangay ASF Task Force and only if the see that there was early disease reporting based on the disease investigation, and that the incursion of the disease can be considered isolated.

The adjustment can also work if strict and tight biosecurity measures are practiced in the farm and its neighboring premises.

The Task Force assessment has also to consider that the affected animals are recently introduced in the area, confined to a location and did not have any or minimal contact with the indigenous population, provided also that the implementing task force has sufficient resources to implement depopulation and manpower to implement strict animal movement restrictions.

As to the targeted depopulation protocol, for a qualified infected area, upon ASF Task Force assessment, pigs within the infected area and are apparently healthy manifesting no symptoms are subjected to veterinary PCR test and those that test positive are immediately depopulated.

Pigs that show ASF negative test results can be slaughtered within three days from blood sample collection and may be sold but should only be consumed within the infected premises, of those pigs may be retained within the infected premises for further observation, but shall never be allowed movement outside the premises until three months.

The order also mandates municipal mayors, the police, the army and barangay officials to enforce the said adjustment order.

Aumentado signed the order April 7. (PIABohol)

EARLY REPORTING PAYS. The Provincial ASF Task Force has recommended the adjustment of infected area to reduce the depopulation scope, but this recommendation only works as longs as the disease investigation reveals that there was early reporting and the infected index case was a newly introduced pig that did not mingle with the indigenous population. (PIAbohol)