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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bacolod: Contaminated hog carcasses in waterways spreads virus – Mayor

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Bacolod City – The dumping of dead hogs in waterways was blamed by Mayor Nicholas Yulo for the rapid spread of swine diseases in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

The Provincial Veterinary Office reported that 1,582 hogs died in Bago City due to swine diseases, which constitutes 7.76 percent of the hog population of 20,386 in Bago City.

Yulo, who issued a warning against disposal of dead hogs in rivers and irrigation canals, among other waterways, disclosed that water is fastest medium to spread the diseases, and it is not airborne, as reported.

Under a provincial ordinance, there is a penalty to be imposed against violators, he added.

When there is dumping of contaminated carcass, waterways will automatically carry the virus, the mayor stressed.

Yulo also pointed out that Bago City remains ASF (African Swine Fever) free, as the hog deaths was attributed mainly due to other swine diseases.

Despite there is no ASF, the mayor said “we will treat these (swine diseases) just like ASF.”

Yulo is scheduled to meet with the local task force and Disaster Management Risk Reduction Management Office to discuss, whether or not to declare an epidemic, because of the swine diseases that hit majority of backyard hog raisers, and the need for assistance to those affected.

On the other hand, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said that the provincial government of Negros Occidental is considering the purchase of ASF vaccines.

Lacson was reacting to reports that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) announced the 100 percent success of the field trials of the ASF vaccine.

If it is already made available in the market “I will encourage the commercial farms to also buy the vaccines,” Lacson said.

As of June 4, hog deaths in the province due to various illnesses have reached 10,004, or 8.84 percent of the hog population, according to reports of the Provincial Veterinary Office.

The PVO placed the damage to the hog industry at P114.2 million, affecting 1,889 hog raisers.

Dr. Jonic Natividad, regulatory chief of the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas, yesterday said that they are hopeful that the national government will subsidize the vaccines for backyard hog raisers if it will be made available in the market.

“If it is given free by the national government it would be better for the farmers. I believe the national government can afford to provide it for free,” Natividad said.

He also appealed to hog raisers to strictly observe biosecurity in their farms.

“We call on their cooperation and vigilance. Report immediately if they have hog deaths,” he said.

ASF cases have been detected in two barangays of highly urbanized Bacolod City, and a barangay in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, according to BAI reports. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)

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