TACLOBAN CITY – Tacloban is the first city in Eastern Visayas with a confirmed African Swine Fever (ASF) case.
Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Angel Enriquez, in a meeting with City Mayor Alfred Romualdez Wednesday, handed over a laboratory result confirming that the sample collected from Barangay (San Jose) is positive for ASF.
She said the Regional ASF Task Force, together with the local government unit through the City Veterinary Office, will undertake the necessary measures for the rapid containment and elimination of the disease, part of which is the mandatory humane slaughter and proper disposal of all pigs within the 500-meter radius infected zone.
She also discussed the indemnification process as the government's support to affected livestock raisers and farmers.
While the case is considered to be isolated, Enriquez urged the city government to strengthen its border control, investigation, and surveillance activities to protect other barangays identified as green zone areas.
Aside from Tacloban City, ASF has also spread to eight municipalities in Leyte – Pastrana, La Paz, Javier, Dulag, Tanauan, Palo, Burauen, and MacArthur.