ASF HITS 2 CITIES, 1 TOWN IN LAGUNA

THE Laguna Provincial Veterinary Office on Thursday confirmed that two cities and one town in the province have been infected with the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Laguna provincial veterinarian Dr. Mary Grace Bustamante said pigs in the cities of San Pablo and Calamba and in the municipality of Nagcarlan have been hit by the highly-contagious and deadly swine disease.

Bustamante said affected by ASF are one barangay in San Pablo City, two barangays in Calamba City, and two in Nagcarlan.

Spokesperson for the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) PNP Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran said that they have already placed meat bio inspection checkpoints at the boundaries of Quezon and Batangas entering Laguna and those leading to Metro Manila to prevent the spread of the swine virus.

Gaoiran said those transporting goods were required to present documents to ensure biosecurity such as veterinary health certificate, local shipping permit, livestock handler’s license, and transport carrier accreditation.

On August 12, the provincial government of Batangas  declared a state of calamity in the province due to the spread of ASF and its impact on the local hog industry.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Calabarzon region said that as of August 9, at least 40 barangays in Lipa City and the towns of Calatagan, Lian, Lobo, Rosario, San Juan, Talisay, and Tuy reported ASF cases.

In Lobo alone, at  least 8,818 pigs died due to ASF.

According to the DA, some 10,000 doses of ASF vaccines would arrive in the third week of this month but while waiting for the availability of the vaccines, it advised hog farmers to strictly implement biosecurity measures to protect hogs from infections.