The province of Iloilo has recorded its first-ever case of African Swine Fever (ASF).
A blood sample taken from a pig in the town of Oton tested positive for ASF, the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC-6) reported on Friday, Oct. 14.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs, warthogs, and boars. It causes pigs to have high fever, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and redness of ears, abdomen, and legs that may lead to their death.
RAFC issued a resolution for “the immediate containment from the ASF ground zero in Oton and within 50 kilometers radius.”
Resolution No. 13 also bans the “movement of hogs in and out of the whole Western Visayas.”
“The province of Iloilo is the center of many industries in Panay and the affected municipality is just about 80 kilometers away from the Municipality of Sibalom in Antique province, where Sibalom Integrated Livestock and Poultry Raisers Association (SILPRA) is [situated],” the resolution stated.
SILPRA is “the largest organization of hog raising and trading in the region.”
According to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), ASF does not pose a risk on human health.
However, humans can become carriers of the virus once tainted pork is ingested or if people get close to the infected meat.IMT
