Zambo barangays report pig mortalities

THE LOCAL government has started investigating the mysterious deaths of pigs in at least three barangays for fear that the deadly African swine fever (ASF) has reached Zamboanga.

Members of the Zamboanga City African Swine Fever Task Force convened to address the issues and concerns surrounding the unusual pig mortalities since last month in Barangays Pasonanca, Pasobolong and Mangusu. 

The Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet) also confirmed the reports. Assistant City Veterinarian Arnedo Agbayani said the ASF Task Force decided to closely coordinate with the officials of the three barangays and pig owners to determine the cause of deaths of the animals. 

Agbayani said the OCVet surveillance team is continuously monitoring reports of swine mortalities for investigation and also submitted the animal’s blood samples to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture. 

He said geo-tagging was also conducted in the barangays, including the inventory of animals and disinfection of slaughterhouses and pig farms as part of the government’s “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” Program.

Mayor Beng Climaco has previously ordered a strict border control to prevent the entry of the deadly hog disease.

The ASF virus is transmitted by direct contact, ingestion of garbage or swill feeds containing unprocessed infected pig meat or pig meat products, ticks and biting flies, and contaminated premises, vehicles, equipment and clothing.

While not a human health threat, the ASF is capable of annihilating the entire swine industry. As of yet, no vaccine or treatment exists to combat the virus. But stringent importation policies, early detection and strict biosecurity measures are being carried out to ensure Zamboanga City remains ASF-free. 

Climaco underscores the need for the immediate adaptation of the National African Swine Fever prevention program to protect Zamboanga from the dreaded animal disease and protect the swine industry and stakeholders. 

She ordered checkpoints in entry and exit points in Zamboanga to ensure that no infected hogs and its pork products slipped past the city since the ASF breakouts in the country began in 2019. 

City veterinary personnel continue to inspect and conduct disinfection of trucks transporting live pigs and other animals to Zamboanga to protect the hog population against the ASF, according to the mayor, adding strict protocols are also being observed to monitor and regulate the entry of hog and pork products here as a measure against the contagious animal disease. (Zamboanga Post)