CEBU CITY – African Swine Fever (ASF) cases have been detected in five more areas in Cebu. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) reported that ASF cases were discovered in the cities of Bogo and Cebu City and the towns of Liloan, Sibonga, and Tuburan. “The sample collection was conducted in backyard farms by the respective local government units (LGUs) as part of the disease investigation and surveillance. Samples were then submitted to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory (RADDL) Region VII and tested using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), the gold standard for testing and confirming the ASF virus,” BAI said. The agency said it continues to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas and local government units to gather data and reports on other areas with suspected cases of ASF as part of a traceback investigation to determine the extent of the outbreak in the province. BAI reminded that ASF is a deadly and highly contagious disease of pigs. “Prevention and control of the virus remains challenging since there is no available vaccine yet,” BAI said. BAI cited the recommendation of the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that pushes for depopulation or culling of affected and exposed swine within a one-kilometer radius. “Taking into consideration the Philippine situation and the devastating effects to the livelihood of our backyard farmers and hog industry, the government has reduced the depopulation area to 500 meters,” BAI said. Confirmed cases of ASF in Cebu were first detected in Carcar City. Gov. Gwen Garcia has ordered strict border control in Carcar where hogs from the city will not be allowed to be brought outside its area of jurisdiction. Garcia, however, ordered the suspension of culling in Carcar pending further tests to determine if what is affecting swine in the city is ASF. The governor also described the policy on culling as “nonsensical.”