ZAMBOANGA CITY—A significant resurgence of African swine fever (ASF) has been reported in 38 of Zamboanga City’s 98 barangays, prompting heightened biosecurity measures to control the spread of the virus.
According to the Philippines News Agency, Dr. Arcadio Cavan, acting chief of the Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet), detailed the extent of the outbreak during a press conference on Wednesday. He noted that the affected areas include nine barangays in the first congressional district and 29 in the second district. “Most of these barangays have previously been hit by the ASF virus, indicating a resurgence or recurrence of the disease,” Cavan stated, describing the situation as alarming.
From August 1 to September 6, the OCVet recorded a total of 2,231 hog deaths, impacting 601 swine raisers in the city. In response, local veterinary field offices have ramped up biosecurity protocols in the affected regions to contain the virus and prevent further outbreaks.
Additional containment efforts include the establishment of round-the-clock border checkpoints on the city’s east and west coasts, manned by local police, to monitor all incoming shipments of pork and pork products. Disinfectants have also been distributed to veterinary field offices for use by affected swine raisers free of charge. “We are culling and disinfecting affected farms, and we’ve advised swine raisers to properly dispose of infected hogs,” Cavan added.
In a related development, Dr. Cavan expressed optimism about ongoing ASF vaccine trials in Lobo, Batangas, which could potentially offer a new tool in combatting the disease. The Department of Agriculture has procured 150 doses of the ASF vaccine for testing in areas where ASF incidence has been notably high.