ASF-affected barangays rise to 458, up 82%, DA-BAI data show

The number of barangays affected by the African swine fever (ASF) has surged to 458, or an increase of over 82% compared to the previous tally by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) earlier this month.

In its latest bulletin as of August 21, the BAI reported that active ASF cases were recorded in 458 barangays across 32 provinces in 15 of the country's 17 regions.

These figures were all increases compared to BAI data as of August 8, wherein cases were logged in 251 barangays across 22 provinces in 11 regions.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Poultry and Swine Dante Palabrica said the rising numbers were "expected" amid the rainy season.

"Expected natin 'yan dahil sa ulan at kumalat hanggang doon sa mga area na dati ay negative. At tulad ng sinabi ko na kahit na ibaon mo 'yung baboy pag may ASF, 'pag nabungkal ito, tatamaan na naman ito sa mga baboy sa area," Palabrica said.

(We expect the increase due to the rains. ASF cases have spread to areas that were previously negative. Even if ASF-positive pigs are buried, when these are unearthed, healthy pigs in the area become infected.)

Palabrica added that the spread of ASF may also be due to unscrupulous traders who transport hogs that may have been infected with viral disease.

Earlier this month, the BAI reported that 11 hogs from one of two trucks recently stopped at the outskirts of Metro Manila tested positive for ASF.

Local government units, Palabrica said, can help control the transport of infected hogs.

"Ang LGU ay independent by itself and they have the funds. Ang LGU ay dapat na mag-setup ng checkpoints sa kanilang lugar para first border at doon pa lang maibaon nila 'yung [mga infected na baboy]. Ang second border... Ito sa NCR (National Capital Region). Hindi naman natin masasabi na maco-cover lahat ng checkpoints 'yan," Palabrica said.

(LGUs can independently act on this. They have their own funds. Checkpoints can be set up in their areas so the infected hogs can be intercepted and disposed in the first border. On the other hand, it is difficult to cover all the checkpoints at the second border, which is the NCR.)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said it has deployed checkpoints in areas of the country that are affected by the ASF as part of the campaign to curb the disease.

Amid the rising number of affected barangays, the Department of Agriculture (DA) assured that there was an adequate supply of pork in the market.

The BAI, an agency under the DA, will begin vaccination against ASF on Friday at Lobo town, considered ground zero of the outbreak in Batangas.

The DA earlier said it was considering to secure additional ASF vaccines from four to five countries that would not only protect hogs, but may inoculate even breeders as well.

An initial batch of some 10,000 ASF vaccines has arrived in the Philippines to help mitigate the impact of the disease on the country's meat supply.

Some hog raisers have expressed concerns that the price per dose of the ASF vaccine may affect the pork prices in the market. — VDV, GMA Integrated News