THE Philippines has confirmed more outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in Luzon, including new cases in Malabon, Rizal, Isabela and Cavite, affecting over 17,00 hogs.
In a follow-up report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on February 13, Philippine Chief Veterinarian and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Ronnie D. Domingo confirmed there were 38 more ASF outbreaks in 11 provinces.
The report noted that 17,406 hogs in backyard farms were susceptible to ASF in Rizal, Pampanga, Malabon City, Cavite, Benguet, Kalinga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Pangasinan, Quezon and Isabela with at least 252 pigs already infected.
It also indicated that 105 hogs in the affected areas died from ASF, while the remaining 17,283 pigs were culled while five heads were slaughtered.
In its seventh follow-up report, Manila confirmed that the fatal disease has found its way into the province of Isabela where 18 hogs died.
The number of hogs susceptible to ASF, as reported by the Philippines to the OIE, rose to 204,889 heads. Authorities have culled 208,924 pigs to contain and control the spread of the virus.
Outbreaks in Quezon
The government also confirmed that Quezon is no longer ASF-free, as 636 hogs in two municipalities in the province were susceptible to the fatal hog disease, of which 13 were already infected.
The ASF outbreaks were confirmed in Mulanay and San Narciso, Quezon, and that the virus struck mostly backyard farms, according to the report. It added that the susceptible hogs in the two municipalities have been culled.
The outbreaks in Quezon province started as early as January 15 and are still continuing, according to the report.
The Philippine report also indicated that ASF outbreaks in Malabon City are continuing, with the latest outbreak occurring in backyard farms in Barangay Baritan.
Rizal’s dilemma
The Philippines told the OIE that there were new ASF outbreaks in Rizal province—considered the country’s ground zero of the outbreaks. The new outbreaks started last month and are still ongoing.
Based on Domingo’s report, about 1,501 hogs in backyard farms were susceptible to ASF in Binangonan, Antipolo and Angono, Rizal. Of the total figure, 18 pigs were infected by the disease. The government culled all 1,501 hogs.
The confirmation of new outbreaks in Rizal pushed back the province’s timetable for regaining ASF-free status.
Under the government’s ASF contingency plan, an area may be declared free from ASF if laboratory tests in the affected area yield negative results for three consecutive months.
In December, the Department of Agriculture noted that Rizal may be technically considered free from ASF after it has not detected the presence of the virus in the province since August 2019.