BACOLOD CITY — The City Veterinary Office (CVO) confirmed Friday that African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in two hog raisers in Barangays Granada and Bata.
The CVO said two samples collected in Barangay Bata tested positive in both the initial and confirmatory laboratory tests.
With the latest cases, four barangays in the city have now recorded confirmed ASF infections, including the previously reported cases in Barangays Alijis and Taculing.
The CVO has been conducting disinfection activities in the identified ground-zero backyard swine areas where ASF-positive animals were found.
The measures include sanitation and enhanced biosecurity procedures to eliminate potential sources of contamination and protect the local swine population.
The disinfection operations form part of the office’s immediate containment and control measures aimed at reducing the risk of further virus transmission within the affected areas and neighboring communities.
The CVO urged all hog raisers in the affected barangays to strengthen their biosecurity measures and immediately report any unusual illness or deaths among swine.
The office also called on farmers, barangay officials, and other stakeholders to help prevent the further spread of ASF, stressing that cooperation is essential to safeguarding the local swine industry.
“By remaining vigilant and adhering to established biosecurity protocols, we can collectively minimize the impact of ASF, protect the livelihoods of our hog raisers, and ensure the continued stability and sustainability of the city’s livestock sector,” the CVO said in a statement.
The city’s ASF Task Force has been reactivated to strengthen surveillance and response efforts against the disease.
Mayor Greg Gasataya earlier issued an executive order prohibiting the entry of live pigs, pork, and pork products from areas with confirmed ASF cases.
Border control checkpoint operations have also been established to prevent the entry of pork products from ASF-affected areas.
The city was declared ASF-free in June 2025 after complying with national recovery protocols.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs but poses no threat to human health. However, outbreaks can cause significant economic losses to the livestock industry because infected animals must be culled to contain the disease. (Glazyl M. Jopson via tdg photo by bcvo)