The Philippines has culled over 250,000 pigs to control the spread of the dreaded African swine fever (ASF), which has managed to finds its way to provinces in Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon.
In its eight follow-up report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Philippines said it culled 41,953 hogs in 69 additional confirmed outbreaks from January to February in Luzon.
This now brings the country’s total cull count to 250,877 pigs, about 2 percent of the estimated 12 million local hog population.
The number of hogs that were susceptible to ASF, as reported by the Philippines to the OIE as of March 26, has risen to 246,918 heads.
The additional outbreaks reported by the Philippines to the OIE were recorded in backyard farms in Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Rizal, Bataan, Aurora, Quezon, Pangasinan, Isabela, Batangas, Benguet, Ifugao, Camarines Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, and Laguna.
The report, which was submitted by Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) OIC-Director and country’s Chief Veterinarian Ronnie D. Domingo, indicated that at least 824 pigs were infected by ASF in the 69 outbreaks, while 76 died from the fatal disease. The Philippine report explained that the source of the outbreaks include illegal movements of animals, swill feeding and fomites, such as vehicles and animal feeds.
In the latest national zoning map released by the BAI, Visayas remains free from ASF as of March 23.
Industry sources noted that the figures being reported and disclosed by the government is “underestimated” as it doesn’t include pigs depopulated or culled by large commercial pig farms.
In a separate report to the OIE on March 26, Domingo said the Philippines has not recorded new bird flu outbreaks following the confirmation of an outbreak in a one quail farm in Nueva Ecija two weeks ago.
Domingo’s report indicated that the the source of the bird flu outbreak in the Nueva Ecija quail farm remains “unknown or inconclusive” but he noted the presence of wild birds in the area.
“The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted,” the Philippine report read.