150 hogs been culled as part of a measure
TACLOBAN CITY– About 150 hogs have been culled in the town of Malitbog, Southern Leyte as it was hit of African Fever Swine (ASF) for the first time.
The ASF in the town was first detected in the village of San Vicente last January 15 involving 14 hogs, Vanessa Timkang of the municipal agriculture office said on Thursday (Jan.25).
“We have yet to determine the cause of the spread of ASF in Barangay San Vicente and its neighboring villages,” she said in a phone interview.
She, however, said that one possible cause of the ASF spread could come from traders who could be selling infected hogs.
According to Timkang, in Brgy. San Vicente, about 14 hogs were first initially detected to be infected with ASF, a highly infectious and severe hemorrhagic disease involving pigs.
About 80 pigs in San Vicente were later depopulated or culled leaving only 49 ‘healthy’ pigs in the village, 3 kms away from the town proper.
“These were buried in a pit 15 meters in depth, away from the residential area of the barangay,” Timkang said.
Aside from San Vicente, ASF cases were also detected in the villages of Pasil with 15 affected pigs and Cadaruhan with 55.
All these pigs were also culled and buried, Timkang said.
In all, 150 pigs were depopulated as part of the effort of the local government to contain the possible spread of ASF in the town which has 37 barangays.
“This is the first time that Malitbog has experienced ASF cases. The LGU immediately conducted orientation and information dissemination regarding ASF and how can this be addressed,” she said.
The spread of ASF in the three villages has affected more than 100 small hog raisers.
The town of Malitbog has over 2,000 hogs population as of last year.
Last month, ASF cases were also reported to hit the town of Sogod, also in Southern Leyte.
LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA
