The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) sent a technical team to assist the local government units (LGUs) of Bais City and Vallehermoso town in Negros Oriental in the culling of African swine fever (ASF) affected pigs and surveillance measures.

Dr. Alfonso Tundag, chief veterinary officer of BAI-Negros Oriental, said yesterday the team was in Bais to continue the culling of pigs, and will proceed to Vallehermoso on Wednesday or Thursday, July 12 or 13.

Tundag said the team, composed of two veterinary doctors and three technical staff, arrived late last week and visited Bais first to help the LGU with the culling and containment measures.

The number of ASF-affected pigs in these areas could not yet be ascertained as the localities have yet to update their reports to the BAI, he said.

Tundag underscored the need for LGUs to conduct monitoring and surveillance in their respective areas to determine if their swine populations are free from ASF.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinary Office is also awaiting updates from the LGUs of Bais and Vallehermoso on the number of pigs culled due to ASF, provincial veterinarian Dr. Melody Vilan said.

Vilan said ASF cases were detected in Barangay Panalaan’s Sitio Tinaan in Bais. It was not immediately known how many households and pig heads were affected.

Currently, blood samples are being collected and sent for laboratory testing while a 500-meter control zone is already in place, she said. (PNA)