Enhanced biometric security in place following ASF outbreak

Batangas province has ramped up biometric security measures at its entry and exit points after confirming cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in four municipalities and one city.

"Ito po ay isang hakbang upang hindi po makalusot o makalabas ‘yung mga posible na mayroon pong may ASF virus na baboy na affected," Dr. Lorielie Austria, the focal person for ASF at the Batangas Provincial Veterinary Office, said.

(This is one measure to prevent swine that possibly have the ASF virus from entering the country.)

The Batangas Provincial Veterinary Office said the affected areas are:

• Lobo
• Lian
• Rosario
• Calatagan
• Lipa City

As of this writing, the provincial veterinary office is still uncertain about how the ASF virus spread within Batangas. 

"‘Yung confirmation po ng aming mga cases started po ng second week po ng July," Austria said.

(The confirmation of these cases started in the second week of July.)

Authorities clarified that ASF does not affect humans. 

"Ang ASF po ay hindi po zoonotic disease. Meaning po hindi po siya nakakahawa sa ating mga tao. Ang mga karne po na galing po sa maayos at confirmed po na healthy animals ay safe po na i-consume, at ito po ay hindi po makakaapekto sa atin," Austria said.

(ASF is not zoonotic disease. This means they cannot infect humans. Meat items from properly prepared and confirmed healthy animals are safe to consume, and these will not affect us.)

Dr. Romelito Marasigan, the Batangas Provincial Veterinarian, urged Municipal Agricultural Offices and the City Veterinary Office in unaffected areas to set up their own checkpoints and inspection sites to strengthen defenses against the spread of the disease.

"Ine-encourage ko na magset-up na rin kayo ng checkpoint and inspection sites sa inyong mga areas para po mapalakas ang depensa ninyo sa pagkalat nitong mga sakit na ito," Marasigan said.

(I encourage my colleagues from the Municipal Agricultural Offices and the City Veterinary Office to set up checkpoint and inspection sites in their areas to prevent ASF from spreading.) —GMA Regional TV News