Batangas province has ramped up biosecurity 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.
The Batangas Provincial Veterinary Office said the affected areas are:
- Lobo,
- Lian,
- Rosario,
- Calatagan; and,
- 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.
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.
Dr. Romelito Marasigan, the Batangas Provincial Veterinarian, urged pig farmers 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.
