First case of African Swine Fever in La Union capital, 30 pigs dead

March 10, 2020 JUST IN

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The City Government of San Fernando confirms the first case of African Swine Fever (ASF) that kills 30 pigs from a local pig farm in Barangay Cadaclan this city Sunday (March 8, 2020).
“We immediately manage a precautionary measure to control the spread of ASF in the city,” said Dr. Flosie Decena, city veterinary officer.
The precautionary steps to manage and control the spread of ASF including the pre-emptive culling of hogs at ground zero and within 1-kilometer radius, mapping the barangays within the 7-kilometers radius, augmenting hygiene kits and also providing financial assistance to the backyard hog raisers.
“This was done Saturday night as to take an immediate action from the city along with the Department of Agriculture and the Provincial Government of La Union,” Decena added.
According to an initial report, the owner of the said farm accepted several piglets last January from a friend in Bauang town to raise and sell not knowing that these did not pass veterinary inspection.
The piglets died one by one until the city veterinarian discovered that the animals were infected by ASF.
The City Health Office assures the public that ASF is not transmissible to humans hence not a human health threat.
Furthermore, that they guarantee all meat consumers that all pork sold in the auxiliary wet market are thoroughly inspected by the city veterinarian office.
CHO advise to the public to practice proper food handling, remain calm and refrain from sharing false information.
 
By: Erwin Beleo