INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
BACOLOD CITY — Authorities are maintaining an in depth watch on the borders of Negros Occidental to forestall the entry of banned pork following an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Barangay West Balabag in Valencia city, Negros Oriental.
Dr. Placeda Lemana, the provincial veterinarian, stated pigs and pork merchandise from Negros Oriental had been nonetheless banned from coming into Negros Occidental as a security precaution in opposition to ASF.
Lemana stated authorities conduct spot checks in La Castellana city to forestall the entry of pigs and pork from Canlaon Metropolis in Negros Oriental.
There are additionally 24/7 checkpoints on the borders of Kabankalan Metropolis and Hinoba-an.
READ: Negros Oriental city strikes to forestall African Swine Fever re-emergence
“We additionally hold an in depth watch throughout market days in Canlaon Metropolis and examine supermarkets and markets to forestall the sale of banned pork merchandise,” Lemana stated.
Final 12 months, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued an government order banning the entry of stay pigs, boar semen, pork, and its associated merchandise from Negros Oriental and different ASF-hit areas.
Dr. Alfonso Tundag, quarantine officer of the Negros Oriental Bureau of Animal Business, stated the ASF instances in Valencia are a re-emergence from a earlier outbreak final 12 months.
From Aug. 5 to 9, no less than 197 hogs had been culled in Barangay West Balabag, Valencia, with 37 farmers affected.
The Nationwide Meat Inspection Service stated ASF is a extremely contagious viral illness that impacts pigs, warthogs, and boars.
It causes pigs to have excessive fever and lose their urge for food and causes hemorrhages within the pores and skin and inside organs. Pigs die inside two to 10 days upon affliction. There isn’t a identified vaccine in opposition to ASF but.
In the meantime, Lemana stated the value of pork in Negros Occidental has dropped by about 30 centavos per kilo.
Within the final week of July, the common pork worth within the province was P323 per kilo.
The worth went all the way down to about P322 in August, Lemana stated.
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