TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Visayas is one of the seven regions in the country still free from African swine fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.

 

This means the region can transport live hogs and swine products anywhere in the country but accept shipments only from other non-affected areas, DA Eastern Visayas ASF coordinator Ernestine Ibañez said in a phone interview.

 

Ibañez said other ASF-free regions are Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Zamboanga, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

 

“Pork consumption here is safe. We have local production here and we no longer accept shipments from Luzon. Although the virus does not cause disease to humans, under the Food Safety Act, infected animals are not fit for consumption,” she added.

 

In the country, a total of 1,491 villages from 323 towns and cities in nine regions have been affected by ASF, with culled pigs reaching 344,969, based on the DA monitoring report.

 

To control and eradicate the disease, all local government units (LGU) were ordered to strictly implement the national zoning and movement plan for prevention and control of ASF.

 

Ibañez said the strategy establishes zones in the country depending on the level of risks of an area to ASF that has struck mostly backyard farms in Luzon.

 

“I am thankful for the six provinces in the region because they are all proactive in implementing the directive from the central government by issuing executive orders to regulate the entry of live swine and all pork products to the region,” she added.

 

Apart from the zoning strategy, the agriculture department has also crafted information materials on ASF prevention translated in local dialects and intensified surveillance to monitor unusual swine mortalities or those manifesting symptoms.

 

Pigs that affected by ASF usually manifest high fever, reddish mumps in the body, and bleeding of internal organs that could lead to sudden death within two to 10 days.

 

Ibañez said they also geo-tag animals to trace swine movements, and conduct on-the-spot monitoring and surveillance in markets for laboratory testing.

 

“We urge LGUs to implement their own initiatives to protect the swine industry and eradicate the disease in the country such as establishment of checkpoints to monitor entry of live hogs and other pork products,” she added.

 

The region’s population needs about 200,000 heads of swine a year. Most pork meat here is produced by local farmers and traders from General Santos City, the DA said. (PNA)