15 towns with active ASF

Virus in 8 towns contained,

new cases monitored in 7

CORTES, Bohol (PIA)—Eight Bohol towns have been successful in managing cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) which had already hit some of its barangays, records from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) show.

In its March 25, 2025 consolidated report, the OPV showed that the towns of San Miguel, Batuan, Carmen, Pilar, Bilar, Dagohoy, Bien Unido and Maribojoc have successfully contained the virus which has affected at least a barangay of their town, freeing some 25 barangays of the dreaded hog disease that can potentially wipe out the multi billion and largely home-based hog industry.

However, towns which apparently did not prepare for the sneaky virus were added to the 8 towns which continue to wonder how they could keep their communities working to help in making sure that the disease is contained until the virus is totally eliminated before it can cause another havoc in somebody else’s pig farm.

When the towns of Ubay, Trinidad, Talibon, Tagbilaran City, Panglao, Catigbian, Loboc and Getafe continued to implement quarantine control points, the OPV noted new cases manifesting in Tubigon, Buenavista, Sikatuna, Baclayon, Loon, Inabanga and Balilihan, making 15 towns now with its 28 barangays with active ASF cases.

Ubay, which used to have Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bulilis, Governor Boyles, Villa Teresita, Pangpang, Huhayhumay and Gabi affected with ASF ha cleared some barangays except Humayhumay, San Francisco, Katarungan, Tipolo, Union and Sinandigan, with ongoing quarantine disinfection operations ongoing.

Trinidad, which used to have cases in M. Roxas, Soom, Kauswagan, Poblacion, San Vicente, La Union, Guinobatan, has cleared these barangays but the virus managed to slip though the border controls ti La Victoria and Kinanoan.

Talibon, which has San Roque, San Agustin, and Balintawak in early affectation reports, now has Sto. Nino, San Jose and Tanghaligue in its barangays with ongoing anti-ASF drives.

From only Bool District in Tagbilaran affected, the disease has slipped to Dao, while continuing to affect Bool.

Panglao succeeded in eliminating the virus in Poblacion and Tawala but continues to battle the virus in Tangnan.

Catigbian on the other hand has cleared Poblacion Weste and Alegria but is still hounded by the continued affectation in Triple Union.

Loboc has not also succeeded in killing the virus affecting pigfarms in Jamilian.

Getafe used to have Bayog as ASF affected, not it has two barangays in the list: Bayog and Poblacion.

Few days ago, a case of ASF was confirmed in Macaas Tubigon, Bantuan and Lubang in BUenavista and Bahaybahay in Sikatuna.

In Baclayon, which could be a spillover from Tagbilaran, cases in Sta Cruz, Tanday and Laya were recently confirmed.

Loon has its first case in Tangnan, Inabanga in Dait Sur and Balilihan in barangay Datag Norte.

Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, who sits as chairman of the Provincial Anti ASF Task Force has asked Boholanos to stop feeding their hogs with kitchen and table left-overs, especially if these has pork in it.

ASF experts have said that swill feeding is among the most usual causes of ASF outbreaks, one which came out when an airplane from Africa offloaded its food refuse prom passengers, and these were fed to a pig farm in Europe, which started the ASF in the Europe and the Americas.

The governor also asked barangay officials and those manning quarantine control points to strictly demand proper documents when allowing the passage of traders carrying hogs in their vehicles.

To this, he has issued Executive Orders requiring proper documents in the transport of live hogs.

The uncontrolled movement of hog vans and boar for hire are among the traced reasons why the virus can slip out of quarantine control points.

He also asked Boholanos to make sure that they buy pork from markets with National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) seals displayed by stall traders.

The NMIS seal is an assurance that the meat is free from ASF and other hog diseases. (RAHC/PIA_7/Bohol)

STRENGTHEN BIOSECURITY. Bohol ASF TaskForce has called for strengthened biosecurity especially in family pigfarms, refrain from swill feeding and making sure to buy only from trusted sources like NMIS certified market stalls, and meat shops, to be assured that the meat one bought is free from hos diseases. (PIABohol)