By CESAR JOLITO III
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed cases of African swine fever (ASF) in San Enrique yesterday, as localities have been intensifying measures to contain the spread of the highly contagious hog disease affecting the industry.
Lacson affirmed yesterday that laboratory test results have verified the presence of ASF in the town.
He said most of the reported cases are concentrated in southern Negros, prompting authorities to strengthen monitoring and biosecurity measures.
Lacson urged hog raisers to strictly follow disease control protocols to prevent further transmission.
He emphasized the immediate burial and disinfection of pigs that die from suspected ASF infection.
The San Enrique municipal government has recorded confirmed ASF cases after laboratory results on collected samples were released.
In an interview, Mayor Jilson Tubillara disclosed that between 400 and 500 pigs have already died, with nearly all barangays reportedly affected by the outbreak.
To curb the spread of the disease, the local government has implemented border control measures and heightened inspections of livestock transport.
Tubillara also directed hog raisers to strictly observe biosecurity protocols, including limiting farm access, disinfecting facilities, and immediately reporting unusual pig deaths to authorities.
The provincial government advised local raisers to consider selling their healthy hogs before the disease spreads further in affected areas.
Earlier, the Moises Padilla municipal government issued an executive order prohibiting the illegal and unauthorized sale of imported meat and meat products without the necessary permits and clearances as part of biosecurity measures to protect public health and safeguard the local livestock industry.
Under Executive Order No. 293, signed by Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo yesterday, the municipality ordered stricter regulation of the entry, storage, distribution, and retail sale of imported meat products within its jurisdiction.
The La Castellana municipal government has also temporarily prohibited the entry of live hogs, pork meat, semen, and processed pork by-products into the town as part of heightened biosecurity measures against a potentially devastating swine disease.
ASF is a viral disease that affects pigs and wild boars.
While it poses no threat to human health, it can cause severe economic losses to the livestock industry due to high mortality rates among infected animals./CCJ, WDJ