The Department of Agriculture confirms the detection of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Barangay Can-aporong, Abuyog, Leyte. It is the first ASF reported case in the province and the first ASF case in the Visayas Region.
The Municipal Agriculture Office of Abuyog, Leyte first received a report of unusual swine mortalities in backyard farms in Brgy. Can-aporong and Bunga, Abuyog, Leyte in the later part of December 2020. The Provincial Veterinary Office of Leyte in coordination with DARFO VIII conducted a disease investigation and sample collection in the two (2) barangays on 6 January 2021. Samples collected were submitted to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory VIII (RADDL VIII) which yielded positive results for four (4) out of seven (7) samples tested using ASF antigen detection rapid test.
Since the test conducted only serves as a screening test, ASF positive serum samples were sent to the BAI Animal Disease Diagnosis and Reference Laboratory (BAI-ADDRL) on 11 January 2021 for confirmatory testing using Real-time PCR. Samples tested yielded a positive result for African Swine Fever virus. BAI-ADDRL reported the laboratory results on 12 January 2021.
Immediately, the DA RFO VIII coordinated with the local government unit through the Office of the Mayor however since the LGU recently imposed a localized lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a coordination meeting was scheduled on 13 January 2021. The DA RFO VIII Quick Response Team also convened to finalize the ASF Action Plan of the Region.
It was agreed during the coordination meeting with LGU Abuyog to immediately implement disease control measures such as depopulation and proper disposal of the affected hogs, inventory of hogs in the identified areas, enforce strong border control in the municipality and disease surveillance and sampling to include nearby barangays.
Disease control measures in the ASF affected areas are currently being conducted. Moreover, three (3) local veterinary quarantine checkpoints in the boundaries of Abuyog, Leyte are now in place and manned by the Bureau of Animal Industry- Veterinary Quarantine Station Region 8 (BAI-VQS), Philippine National Police (PNP), Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Office of Leyte and LGU Abuyog.
The government veterinary authorities quickly responded to all necessary procedures to contain the ASF case in Abuyog, Leyte. The DA encourages the swine stakeholders in the area to report any unusual swine mortalities to its municipal/city, provincial veterinary offices.
For reports or further inquiries on swine disease incidence, kindly call or text DA – BAI Hotline at 0995132933 or 09208543119 or DA-RFO 8 ASF Coordinator at 09151841883. ### (DA-RFO VIII)
